Marney's Musings:
My Father’s Echo
Artellagram 7-14-12


Me and my Dad when I was four years old, Kai’s current age.
Barbe Kobe


Last weekend was the anniversary of the passing of my father. He was a university professor of religion, a philosopher, and a profound thinker. He passed away eight years ago, and this year he somehow felt especially far away. When my first copy of Creating Time arrived from the publisher this spring, my first thought was, “If only Dad could see this book.” After all, as an avid reader and published author himself, there were few things he loved more than books.

Yet, in spite of his dedication to academia, there was never any question than family came before work. In fact, in the introduction of one of his own published books, he acknowledged me and my sister, thanking us for “the constant distractions that reminded me that life is more important than books.” At the time, I was just a little girl, and so I was rather indignant at being called a “distraction”. Now, as a parent myself, I understand exactly what he was saying, with our son Kai being the most amazing and beautiful distraction from the weightiness of life one could ever ask for.

Some of you who have been around Artella since the early days (this is our 10th year) will remember the Art-Splashes I shared in the early Artella newsletter. Here is one that I shared in back 2003, in honor of my Dad, titled “Grand Unemployment”. I’m inspired to share it again here:



I’ll never forget when my Dad shared those words with me: “The goal is to work myself out of a job. That’s what parents and teachers do”. Without knowing it, he provided me with an anchor for my creative path.

In 2002, I read a quote by Deepak Chopra: “The Law of Giving states that whatever you most want for yourself, give that to another.” At the time, my greatest desire was to have my art and writing published. Inspired by Chopra’s quote, I decided to help other people get their art and writing published, and that began a 10-year path that has been more fun and rewarding than I could have imagined.

What about you? What comes to mind when you think about yourself as a teacher, as posed in the artwork?

What might it look like to explore your own rendition of “The Law of Giving”?

What might it feel like, for you to share your gifts in the world in greater ways, allowing your art and knowledge to take on a life of its own?

In Creating Time, after sharing a passage about kronos and kairos written by my Dad, I wrote, “We can connect to eternity as our words, art, and actions of today can reverberate throughout the universe forever, just as my dad’s presence is echoing right here in these words.”

I thank my Dad, Lonnie Kliever, for being a superb example of detachment from one’s own knowledge and skill, and creating tremendous ripples in the world. You are remembered. You are missed. You are still here.
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