"Waiting" and "Access" - 3rd Wednesday in Lent

The Door of Colors

8" x 11"

by Melissa Whaley

at

MUSC Children's Hospital

I didn't make it to last Wednesday evening's service at St. Andrews because my 12 year old niece, Melissa Whaley, was in the Chidren's Hospital recuperating from acute pancreatitis.  The second day she found the Atrium and had been down there with her mother 3 times before I arrived in the late afternoon.  She's a prolific artist and we've been painting together since she was 2 years old so I asked her to paint a door since my painting theme at church this Lent has been "access".  I thought it was pretty cool that she could keep layering the paints on top of each other and not get mud (I would've gotten mud...).  I didn't suggest what kind of door, or give any hints, so I think it's interesting she chose purple paper (suggesting both Lent and Royalty), has 3 purple teardrops at the top (suggesting the Trinity) and when I look to the right of the red shape at the bottom, I see the hint of Christ hanging on the cross.  That may just be the way I'm wired since I've painted at worship services for 10 years, but I do tend to read paintings through the eyes of the Kingdom.  Great job and thanks, Melissa!

Melissa Whaley, Prolific Artist at Work

(with her Grandfather Walker displaying her recent artwork)

What really impressed itself on me is that a child in the hospital, dealing with pain and only allowed fluids by IV, produced nothing by paintings of color, joy and celebration.  Melissa was diagnosed with JRA (Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis) when she was 2 years old; she's been giving herself weekly shots of her JRA medication for at least the last 4 years and wants to be a doctor when she grows up.  Melissa Whaley is one of my heroes.

The MUSC Children's Troubadors

Live music, too... these 2 great guys appeared at Melissa's door right as we returned from the Major Painting Spree in the Atrium.  They sang about 4 songs (they're really good!) and hit a home run with all of us when they sang their first song, "Sweet Melissa" by the Allman Brothers.  If you've got to be in the hospital, the MUSC Children's Hospital is a good place to be...but we thrilled that Melissa is well and at home now!