Are You Like A Gourd?

Now I have not seen many people shaped like a gourd. I have heard the term your head is as empty as a gourd. You know I didn’t know nothing about gourds until recently. I am not real sure now what I know. Some you can eat the insides of, seeds, etc., others you try that with and off to the promise land you will go.

I sort of stumble upon gourds by accident. Yes, I have seen them all my life. I have seen bird houses, dipping gourds, water jugs, vases, all sort of things made and used out of them. Heck, I even know the local gourd lady. You know sometimes we are so busy smelling the roses that we forget about the beauty of the flower that gives off that wonderful smell. I guess that what happen to me. I had bought gourds for other people but never none for myself.

Well now I saw some of them things at an art gallery some painted and others carved on. Heck I said this is art? I know what you are going to say, yes expressing oneself in different formats is truly the way the artist feels and thus a reflection expressed in that subject matter. That is their art piece. Any how it mean more to me that what I was seeing. I wanted to express myself too.

I went to the gourd lady, told her what I wanted to do. I think she thought that I had a empty spot also. Anyhow I pick out a bunch of different types. Then I ask the important questions, do you clean them before you start painting, and how; about making a hole in them suckers any suggestions; what if a crack or hole is found where you don’t want one. She answered my questions as if she was the professor of the realm of gourds. I thought you fool what have you gone and done.

Now I am standing at the sink with gourds bobbing all over the place in warm water with a towel over them. Soaking the dirt, mold, fungus, and outerskin off them suckers. Have you ever tried to wash a bowling ball with soap on it and hold that thing! Those gourds were worse than a grease pig, I gotta, no I don’t, there it went again. Worst than a kid trying to wash them behind them ears. I took a extra bath that night not that I really needed one.

I do have some sharpe knives that is one thing that I pride myself on is cutting myself as often as possible, red is one of my favorite colors. I finally used a drill on that sucker, write if you want details. I am running out of time and paper on this subject. Now, I am in at last. Just a few seeds she said, what the hell is in here. That was what was in there all right. Finally, I am ready to paint, at last. Where do you start, what colors, what will it look like when I am through. The colors didn’t look like much. I hit it with poly, the beauty of the gourd and color all became one. It was a creation, a work of art. Since then I have painted a few. Each one is different, it has its’ own character, flaws and beauty.

There is an irony to the gourd. Man and gourd are a lot alike. Both created by God, one given to the other to be used and tended. Some gourds I have bought were cracked, dirty and knotted. I would wash and find a beautiful specimen. Others I would have to patch in order to use. Knotted ones have been to me some thing that I have enjoyed working with the most. A few I have dropped after completing and had to heal the flaw. I see the same in each of us. We too are gourds in the hand of God. The Master is still knocking the dirt off of me. I am afraid He also has a patch job to do on me. I wonder what I will be and if I too will be painted like you. Each of us are as different as the gourds I paint. None of us is truly a saint. But soap, water, and paint by a gentle hand can make us beautiful in the sight of man. Look not for the faults but see what is in hand. Are you a gourd or just a man!

BOW 7/12/98