A time and a place for everything

I don't think I'm superstitious.  No, I don't think that's it.  But I am attuned to signals of when and where I need to do certain things.  By way of example: let's say I am working on a writing project - several are in progress right now - I refuse to make myself write, just because.  I wait for the right moment to sit down at the computer and put everything together.  I fully trust that moment is going to present itself, too often when the clock is ticking on my deadline, but not always.

I was working on one project this morning, when I ran into an unexpected barrier.  It was a signal to set it aside and wait for another time.  It's similar with my paintings.

In a notebook I have sitting on the side of my desk, I have scribbled reminders of the various requests that have come in over the last six months for portraits.  These often relate to photos of family members and friends that are stored in a specific folder in my computer.  When I have time to paint, one of these speaks to me in some way, and that becomes the painting project for that particular day.  Sometimes, a request comes in that demands immediate attention.  That happened twice this week, with two different young people who died way too soon.

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
     Ecclesiastes 3

A lot of people force themselves to do things, not in their time, but in some artificially imposed schedule, against every instinct in their body.  I'm guessing that guilt plays a role in these circumstances, some perceived weight of responsibility and pressure bearing down.  I try not to do that, instead trusting that the time and place will come for everything that I need/want/desire/ or feel inspired to do.