 Inspired by an infant, I am on a tour of random things. This is a quest to slow down the blistering pace of life and simply stare at objects or scenes. If I consider these random things long enough, they begin to invoke wonder, peculiarity, humor, curiosity, and profound appreciation. Staring intently at inanimate objects is an odd thing to do in public. But the "weird factor" is alleviated when you're holding a baby. A miniature house at Shaw's Coffee on The Hill in St. Louis. These nostalgic little scenes, resting on fake cotton snow, make me happy. Inside there are people laughing around the table. We want to be inside too. 
View out the window of my study at home. Frost clings to the glass in geometric fashion. It's haphazard and yet as if it was placed there with great intention. 
Merry Christmas Eve. Don't move too hastily. You'll miss too much. The celebration of the incarnation requires uninhibited attentiveness. Most people missed the holy newborn two millenia ago. Except for some farmers and a teenage mother.
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 Inspired by an infant, I am on a tour of random things. This is a quest to slow down the blistering pace of life and simply stare at objects or scenes. If I consider these random things long enough, they begin to invoke wonder, peculiarity, humor, curiosity, and profound appreciation. Staring intently at inanimate objects is an odd thing to do in public. But the "weird factor" is alleviated when you're holding a baby. 
Sitting at my neighborhood cafe. Russel's blend coffee. A mason jar with some holly berries in it. (I guess it's a decorative thing.) A first draft of a sermon. Often times, the word of God overwhelms with a rush and I vomit words on a blank page in a matter of minutes. Other times the page remains untouched for an extended pause. It reminds me that I don't get to make stuff up. I'm at the mercy of God.
 Inspired by an infant, I am on a tour of random things. This is a quest to slow down the blistering pace of life and simply stare at objects or scenes. If I consider these random things long enough, they begin to invoke wonder, peculiarity, humor, curiosity, and profound appreciation. Staring intently at inanimate objects is an odd thing to do in public. But the "weird factor" is alleviated when you're holding a baby. 1st Stop: My Front Door  The fleur-de-lis is the symbol of my city, St. Louis. Here it is painted on a wooden beam next to the front entrance to our home. (It came with the house.) Fleur means "flower" and lis means "lily." It has a host of meanings, most notably with the French monarchy. The city of St. Louis is named after King Louis IX (1214-1270), the only monarch to be canonized as a saint.
The fleur-de-lis has Christian roots, said to symbolize new life and purity (the lily) as well as the Trinity. After staring at it a while, my neighbor walked over and asked, "You gonna repaint that after it chips off?" We'll see . . . |
Photos used under Creative Commons from weisserstier, adamnsinger, gunman47
