This is the man I love – a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and brother. He has been part of my life through a majority of it. We’ve shared our ups and downs. We had disagreements. We’ve had all out fights, but we’ve always managed to mend those fences and move on.
For the past several weeks, Paul Boecher, the artist, has been exhibiting his art in a one man show at the Rum River Art Gallery in our little town of Anoka. His show will end on Sunday. He is passionate about his art and constantly works at improving it and growing because of it. His greatest abilities are not always shown on a canvas, or in a piece of wood, but in the heart of this man. He’s able to share his knowledge, because of his formal art education and experience, with several students in the classes he teaches. He especially enjoys seeing them evolve into fine artists and discover their potential.
Because Paul is also a man who loves God and wants to serve Him with all his heart, financial gain and notoriety are not important to him. He gives the credit for his abilities to the One who created him. He feels that his true reward is in what his art does for others.
The arts are filled with so many gifted people and chances of becoming a Renoir or Rembrandt today are slim to none. Because of this, the arts are also very competitive and saturated. Still Paul and I agree that they are an important part of life. Through art and performance, we can communicate our thoughts, our vision, our hopes and dreams. We can share with our audience, the love we have for what we do and inspire others through it.
As I sit here, writing this post, I’m seated at a table filled with some of his paintings and relief sculptures. My hand drifted over the top of one and I was moved by the depth of each cut of the chisel the smoothness of tenderly crafted wood. I recalled a life sized relief sculpture Paul did many years ago of the Good Shepherd, holding a sheep and tending others. When the piece was installed, a blind woman went up to touch it. She began to cry as she touched the Shepherd’s face. She said, “That’s my Savior!” That’s what art is about – touching others with the work, inspiring, giving comfort, joy and peace – spilling part of yourself into the finished product for someone else to enjoy.
Art has an effect on all of us, whether we know it or not. I’m very proud of my husband and his artistic. I’m even more proud of how he shares his love of God through it. From the wife of a starving artist, I can honestly say, I’ve been blessed beyond my own merit, by the gift of this man who has shown me how to give my heart to God. There is no greater treasure.
atimetoshare.me 
I would love to meet him and learn painting from him but Anoka is far from where I live😀
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I understand what you’re saying. Hopefully you can gain some insight from the paintings I include in many of my posts. I’m sure you’d love taking classes from Paul. His students really learn a lot.
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I wish I could learn too…! Surely, I will gain insights from his works. Thanks a lot!
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This is so precious. 💘💘💘
I looked on Google map, and Anoka, Minnesota is 1,066 miles away from where I am in eastern New Mexico. Your weather forecast says your high temperature today will be 14 degrees Fahrenheit. Ours will be 73. But both places are expected to get snow this Sunday!
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What else is new? I feel like I’m living in a snow globe and can’t get out. Wish we were closer. I’d love to meet you face to face❤️
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He’s great at what he does!
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Thank you. I’ll pass your compliment on to him.
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Rum river eh— off to the caribou lounge 🥳
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Yes we’re only two blocks from the Rum river . And the Caribou & Antler Shed is on our backyard😜
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We don’t call it a shed— we call it a lounge 🥳🥳
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The shed pertains to all the shed antlers within!
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Gregory will love it— I have sheds I’ve picked up over the years in the basement— one day we’ll turn it into a deer lounge 😎
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Dearest Kathy, You and Paul continually inspire me!! Thank you! And what a beautiful story about how God used Paul’s carving in that lovely woman’s life! It brought tears to my eyes! Thank you!! ❤ ❤
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It brought tears to my eyes as well to know that woman could actually feel it with her hands rather than her eyes. That is true sight❤️
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I may have to check into the miles from Anoka, MN to NW IA! Probley not that far at all!
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You’re welcome any time.
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