“One day at a time--this is enough. Do not look back and grieve over the past for it is gone; and do not be troubled about the future, for it has not yet come. Live in the present, and make it so beautiful it will be worth remembering.” Anonymous

The everyday can be quite humdrum or quite lovely. I decided to look for the lovely today.

This is beautiful because it once seemed impossible, but somehow my hands and my mind have learned to cooperate in such a way that this celtic bag is coming together.

The beauty here lies in the resourcefulness of my Grandma Becky which enabled me to create a work of art. You see Grandma Becky saved every button she found. Plastic buttons last much longer than cotton fabric, so she passed on a lovely collection to me.

My Grandma Becky also had lovely taste in what are now known as vintage pillow cases.

Grandmommie Berry worked a fine quilt. There was something special about moving home and finding such a treasure in the closet to adorn my bed. It makes a home just a bit cozier to have tangible reminders of a faithful heritage.

Labels: beauty, everyday art

I've had a bit of fun with my job. I've posted a few pictures from Valentine's day for your enjoyment.




Have a lovely day.

Labels: Chick-fil-A

In a delightful book by Madeleine L'Engle she shares a new perspective on an old idea.

In the world of the theatre we touched on reality itself, and were shocked as the world around us seemed to reach out for the unreal. Planned obsolescence was just coming in, objects made with less than excellence, build to destroy themselves or to wear out. Plastic and synthetics were just becoming available to the public. The word synthetics is enough: unreal.

Today we live in a society that seems to be less and less concerned with reality. We drink instant coffee and reconstituted orange juice. We buy our vegetables on cardboard trays covered with plastic. But perhaps the most dehumanizing thing of all is that we have allowed the media to call us consumers-ugly. No! I don't want to be a consumer. Anger consumes. Forest fires consume. Cancer consumes.
Circa 1988 AD

I rest in the knowledge that we were created for more.

When you see a shadow, the shadow is real. It is in reality there. However, there is so much more than just the shadow.



In speaking on some of his contemporary cultural situation, the Apostle Paul observed...

These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.
Colossians 2.17
Circa 60 AD

I experience the shadow of my identity as an American consumer, but the greater reality is I'm a citizenship in God's household.

Like Christ, all of God's children can participate in glorious endeavors such as these.

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners, [a]

to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,

and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.

They will rebuild the ancient ruins
and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
that have been devastated for generations.
Isaiah 61

Look past your shadows today.P

Labels: Madeleine L'engle, planned obsolescence, Purpose

I have found great encouragement today in a simple magazine article and the text of Martin Luther King Junior's famous speech. I've found another beautiful story of redemption.

As you probably know I'm moving to Houston this fall and to some degree I was a bit nervous to move back to the corporately influenced consumer culture present there. You see as a female, it is quite easy for me to want way too much stuff. eek!

I purchased a copy of Cottage Living magazine today in the grocery line and while enjoying my lunch I came across an article about three restoration projects in the fair gulf shore city. My heart leaped. I always love reading about restoration of homes and communities.

Houston is the nation's fourth most populated city and rapidly growing. There are three organizations cultivating healthy communities. Project Row Houses, Avenue CDC, and the Menil Foundation share a common ethic: to provide affordable, attractive housing and an appreciation of art's empowering role in neighborhood development and restoration.

You may enjoy exploring the websites of these projects...
Project Row Houses
Avenue CDC
Menil Foundation Their website only describes their art exhibits

I've been so struck by the places I see God in the last few days. I am just amazed at those moments when you see a quote from what God shared in the Bible resonate out into life.

They will rebuild the ancient ruins
and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
that have been devastated for generations.
Isaiah 61:4

The building has been vandalized, but it still retains its smoothly crafted elegant façade and entryway. This building has played a significant part in Houston's history and since renovated will continue to do so.

The original Jefferson Davis Hospital building has welcomed a cadre of new residents after being vacant for 20 years. Avenue CDC, in partnership with Artspace Projects Inc., recently completed the rehabilitation of this historic structure in the fall of 2005. The old Jefferson Davis Hospital has recently become the home to 34 families and is now known as Elder Street Artist Lofts. source:http://www.avenuecdc.org/jeffdavis.asp

God is surely working among us to bring about justice, peace, love and ultimately a deeper understanding of Him. He's showing us His glory!

Take a moment to read this exert from the I have a dream speech. Thank God that what seemed a distant dream to people of the 60s is becoming an increasing reality.

I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive.

Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair.

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood...

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight,

and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed

, and all flesh shall see it together.

This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring."

And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

Labels: Community Development, Martin Luther King, Redemption