Iconography provides me a path to evangelize. It gives me an opportunity to help make present to others, God, Jesus, Mary, Joseph, the Saints and the stories that define Christianity. When I try to verbally share my story and publicly pray, it all comes out awkward, disjointed and harsh without a sense of me. When I paint I pray and when I complete an icon I've not only made a connection with the one who's image I painted, but I feel like I'm bringing that image through time to the present day. I guess I feel the world could use more Saints today. The Holy Spirit guides my hand and brush allowing me to use a gift by producing something good, something that brings people in touch with the living God and their spirituality.

Making and preparing icon boards is also a prayerful process for me. I feel blessed in providing other iconographers a surface on which they can paint a holy image. At least each board I make carries that hope.