“Your art speaks of healing,” said New York artist, Makoto Fujimura. A couple of years ago after his lecture, I waited in the book signing line to show him my homemade portfolio. Graciously, he flipped through the Xeroxed reproductions of my artwork. In that moment, he had identified my calling: healing.

Around the same time, one of our life-long friends, Bob Boardman, mentioned in a letter to my husband, “Pamela should develop her writing.” I had never really written anything besides a few Christmas letters. But his encouragement ignited a spark.

Five months later, I signed up for a five-day writer’s conference. At the conference, I had several opportunities to meet with different editors. One of the editors, referred to as Professor Dick, startled me when he broke into prayer over my writing samples and artwork. He challenged, “Keep writing.” And he said, “Start a web site to widen the exposure to your paintings and stories.” The spark burst into a flame.

Stepping Into the Unknown

When Fujimura named my calling—“Your paintings speak of healing”—I had no idea where each new door would lead. But as I have stepped out into the unknown, I have been experiencing healing in the process. And as I tell my story, many others are joining me on the journey towards faith, forgiveness, and hope.