The idea of sharing has become a central element in my life and my faith. My religion is eclectic to say the list, a blend of Merton, Jesus, the Kabbalah, and the true Christians,  alive but hiding out in America. They all add up to God to me.

I am comfortable reading the Kabbalah, written by unknown mystics in medieval times. The Kabbala I read celebrates women, sex, Mother earth and the environment, animals and charity.

The Kabbalah is the only ancient religious text that doesn’t make me wince at time.

The idea of sharing is central to this idea of faith, and now, to my life.

I share my life, my love, my time, money when I can, I share my pictures, thoughts and words, my acts of small kindness.

Of all the attributes of the Creator, says the Kabbalah, the essential and defining one is an infinite and unbounded desire to give and share of oneself.

In this faith, the Light is the source of fulfillment. it represents love, happiness, trust and beauty. And it teaches that sharing brings the most joyful moments of life. I feel this is true in my life. Sharing is, to me, the cornerstone of creativity, it is what  creativity is really all about at the core.

I sell photos now, and have sold 40 or 50 this year, which is great for a photographer in the age of the smart phone. I have given away about 50,000 photos I don’t copyright or watermark them, they are free for people to use in any way.

Although my fine art photos are as inexpensive as it is possible for me to make them, I know there are people who can’t afford them.

I recently asked those people to contact me and we would try to work something out, so that they might get to have a signed photo they love, and which means something to them.

I want and need to make some money on my photos; photography is an expensive passion. But I also want to share my photos, I don’t just want it to be about money. I’ve learned the hard way that paying one’s bills is spiritual also.

A couple of months ago, I got a message from Ana saying she loved one of my landscape/sky photos, but she was out of work now and had no money.  Responding to my message, she asked if there was any way to get a photo.

She could pay me later, or in small amounts perhaps.

We went back and forth and I realized she just didn’t have any money. I didn’t want to put that pressure on her.

I decided send her the photo for free. And I got this message from her yesterday: “Thank you so much for the lovely photo. I will treasure it always, as it is beautiful and brings to mind your and Maria’s graciousness and  generosity. You two are an example of what it truly means to be authentic. Keep shining your light; it illuminates and encourages and you are an inspiration. God bless you always.”

This is one of those joyful moments the Kabbalah talks about. Sharing does bring joy, I think God was correct when he said it was the very point of human existence.

I mention Ana’s message not only to blow my own horn – I’m proud of it – but to encourage others out there who want one of my photos badly to contact me, and we will try to work something out.

I can’t always give them away, but we can probably figure out some way to pay over time, or when they can. The pictures are my angels, they sail out into the word to brighten the walls and lives of others.

The photographs brightened my life when it was dark, and every day now, perhaps they can brighten the lives of others.

Sharing is on my mind in my personal life as well. I’ve asked Maria to come with me to the Mansion today to read stories to the residents with me. She was startled as we both generally see the Mansion as my work, and we keep large parts of our lives separate from one another.

But I want to share parts of my life with Maria. For one thing, it is satisfying and fulfilling, we interact well with one another For another, people love working with her. I am well aware that I am 17 years older than she is, and one day in the not too distant future I will be done.

Maria is creative in every way in which I am creative, and more. The Mansion residents love her and often ask for her. She is more cheerful than I am, warmer.

Her work has expanded into writing, pictures, videos as well as her increasingly popular art. Her sense of sharing is boundless, together, we are powerful. Soon, we will be planning a podcast together.

Maria and I are careful to keep our own identities. She can and will make her own choices about life, but it would be nice to think the Bedlam Farm idea – creativity, encouragement, and yes, sharing – could continue after me. Perhaps Red’s illness has helped me to think about this openly.

I’ve already arranged for my blog to fuse with hers when I die, and perhaps she will decide to continue the Mansion work as well.

A friend of mine startled me yesterday when she said I was trying new things – acting class, a radio show – that most people don’t associate with a 72-year-old man. I never once thought of it that way,  but this reminded me to think of the future instead of fearing it.

I am a writer and she is an artist, we keep those two things quite separate from one another. But I have no secrets now, and my life is open. The two of us reading to the resident will be twice as good for them as one of us.

Isn’t that the point?

I am grateful to Ana for giving me this joy. If there are other Ana’s out there, get in touch with me – [email protected]. If I can help you, I will.

If there is a God, I believe his wish for us is to take pleasure in his creation, and in sharing the creative spark with others.