The Substitute

Fake, additives, derivatives, fillers, enhancers, substitutes. Oh, the adulteration of things pure. The less than real is found in our food, beauty and social culture. There are full-time jobs, careers and research labs associated with the world of the fake. Faux is the new true.

Take a moment to think about the products and food found in your home. Look at those labels and do a quick tally of things unreal. I think you'd find a very high percentage of your daily living has been touched by the false fairy. OK, let's not think about that too much, one could go a little batty with all the unnatural ways we get through life.

The fact is, it's a part of us. Our human nature just can't help it. I'll even go as far to say true purity is just too much for the make up of man. Well, I'm getting ahead of myself again, I better start to get to my real thoughts before the tangent monster takes me on another adventure.

I believe we all have within us an innate sense to get back to Eden. We just know that things in the world just aren't the way they should be. We start off strong in our attempts to nobly hold onto the innocence we seem to understand in childhood only to find ourselves in a tangled up mess of half-truths, deceit and compromises.  Life is tough in this faux, faux world.

Pseudo Spirituality

I was reading Judges 17 and 18 and the topic of idols jutted out at me as something that needed to be added to the long list of fake things we battle in this world. As I read further I realized the times were not much different than what we experience now. It was said that the people did what was right in their own eyes (Judges 17:6). Essentially the blind leading the blind.  The story shows a man in his feeble attempts ended up choosing the fake, the dead, the non-life giving substitute in place of reality.

The story begins with (I assume a middle aged man) named Micah stealing silver from his own Mother. He over hears her anger over the trespass and decides to give it back to her.  She then blesses her son and asks that the silver be made into two idols no doubt as a sign of piety. Micah even goes to the extent to try and be accurate by recreating the ephod. Micah then sets his son up as the priest of the household.

Maybe things weren't going too well with the son being the priest because along comes a 'gypsy' Levite (Levites were the tribe chosen by God to be His representatives - The priestly tribe) and Micah seeing his credentials, offers him room and board along with an annual salary for his priestly services. They get along really well and Micah thinks of him as a son.

Explorers from the Danite tribe come across Micah's house and find the idols and the priest. They figure why not ask the man of God if they will be successful in their quest to take over the land they are seeking. The priest says, 'Yes, they will accomplish their goal.'

Word travels fast. Six hundred warriors show up at Micah's house from the Danite tribe and they persuade the priest that overseeing a clan was better than a household. They secretly bagged the idols and left to raze the city of Laish, whose people were peaceful and kept to themselves. Micah pursues the warriors in order to try and retrieve his idols and his priest but went back home empty-handed. The Danites then took over the city and set up the idols that were once Micah's.

This story made me ask so many questions? Why did the Danites have to war against a peaceful city, couldn't they have built their own city especially with 600 strong warriors? It sure seems that the Levite priest was in it for the perks, why didn't he tell Micah to get rid of the idols and start worshiping God? He so willingly followed the clan and didn't even tell Micah he was leaving, he didn't seem too concerned about the spiritual welfare of Micah and his household.

garnetppl:Photo by: Kevin Walsh
Mica

The story of Micah just seems to go from bad to worse. Anytime I read it I always think of the sheet silicate mineral we call Mica and how easily it flakes and crumbles. Under a time of 'do whatever floats your boat' and man living on his own whims; searching for truth in anything other than the true source just causes our life to fall apart.

Micah is a great picture of man's search for God in religious traditions and focusing on the superficial outward rules. I strongly believe Micah even made his priest his idol. What Micah had was a package deal. He had pretty, expensive items along with a human figure head to make his attempts to look and feel righteous seem like a reality.

The Substitute

The word 'idol' gives off an ancient vibe as if those things don't exist anymore. They are just relics we read about, in fact, we know they are just statues. How easily we forget the word 'idol' also consists of ANYTHING that takes the place of God.  With that extended definition, I think it makes the term quite modern and up-to-date.  Idols now can be related in terms of: money, husbands, wives, kids, friends, careers, the self, hobbies. OUCH! Too close to home.

Idolatry and priorities when working in a symbiotic relationship cause havoc on our relationship with God and other people. The minute we get our priorities straight and keep God as our focus, the potential idols in our lives take the proper role, time and energy necessary for balanced living (John 7:38). Let's face it, anything that takes first place on our priority list other than God is a substitute, one that won't fulfill.

Idols don't offer anything and they don't deliver on any promises, or if we substitute people in the place of God our expectations of them will never measure up and cause us to be disappointed and angry.

Our substitutes are dead ends, yet we create them, we hold on to them, we spend our time, effort and money on them. We become emotionally attached to these dead icons and end up empty handed and not understanding why, just like Micah.

Quintessence

This is where I get a little teary eyed and my heart finds that small sliver of Eden staring back at my soul in the form of hope. Hope in the reality of God extending himself through all the universe and time to be the purity we search for while we live out the life sentence of a fallen world full of distracting substitutes.

The inerrant Word of God tells the story of God's intervention in mans' mistakes with the end result of good thwarting harm, God's name being glorified and man coming out smelling like a rose when he probably should smell a little more like a titan arum flower (corpse flower).  He offers that to all of us through the pages of time. We just have to make Him our priority. Every day!

My struggle to try to be close to God, please Him and allow Him to make my life straight has been a journey I can relate to 'a camel passing through a needle'. (Mat. 19:24). It is a narrow road (Mat. 7:14) that I can only stay on by relying on My savior, Jesus. I can truly say, because of His purity and His sacrifice, I am lucky enough to be washed clean and experience what real life is. I have not arrived and still experience encounters with the 'fake' but know that when that occurs, I've got the pure source for what is right, good and beneficial for my growth, JESUS!

Thank you Lord for your example of Purity, only found in Your Son! (John 14:6)



This Sermon SAYS IT ALL

My Man Gave Me Fresh Cut Flowers

The simple joys in life are found in flowers...

I was standing in the long grocery store check out line which gave me time to observe what others were purchasing. A few men had bouquets of flowers as the main course in their basket. I wondered to what occasions these little bundles were going to be given. I did know whatever the occasion a smile is what they should bring. This little exercise got me wondering about the bouquet.

The typical scene of 'man gives flowers to woman' abounds in novels, film and the not so kind world of the cliche. The bouquet has a universal pull on everyone's psyche. The bouquet can be generalized by calling it a bunch of flowers, it can be used as a relationship opener and rejection diffuser or an apology smoother. The most sought after bouquets are those given in love.

Our human emotions play a big role in the act of giving natural beauty which acts as a voice to our intentions. We owe a lot to these relationship builders God created for our good. So let's take the bouquet back from the grips of banality and habitual monotony and laud what these botanical creatures can really do.

My '18 Year' Bouquet

What My Bouquet 'Said' to Me

1. When my husband came through the door with the wild array in his hands. My heart jumped a little knowing he was one of those men I observed in the grocery store choosing a specific arrangement for the love in his life. He took time out of his day to think of me in a specific way.

2. I looked at the varietal blooms and each one was vibrant with color. The visual beauty was stunning. The textures, shades and hues added a new interest to the same old surroundings.

3. I immediately wanted to touch the soft petals of the Carnation, feel the brain-like structure of the Celosia and gaze long at the purple variation of the Amaranth. With daily chores that bespatter the typical day, the silky contrast was welcomed.

4. The Cockscomb (Celosia) was my favorite, it is suggestive of a highly colored brain. Something I'd like to feel I can lay some claim too. A woman likes to be loved for her brain as well as her body.

5. This floral offering was in no way mundane. I put it on the bedside table and when I awoke this morning something alive and beautiful was staring back at me. As I go about my day's work, I'll occasionally pass it and an appreciative thought towards my husband dances through my mind.

I sure hope that the five things I listed can help those hard working, providing, love mates with a new perspective on the bouquet. They really aren't cliches unless your heart says they are.

A little ditty to Feeling Good! Sing it Nina!

(Analogy, not pantheism or deep ecology intended)

Guest Post-DIY: Hanging Papasan Chair

Over the Summer break my friend re-did her bedroom, inspiring the idea to upgrade my own room.  I did some research for ideas and came across an article for re-purposing a papasan chair. I sold the idea of installing this style of chair to my parents but the tutorial was a bit vague.

Since I learned a few things during the process, I thought I'd share the details so others who want to accomplish the same goal can have a good resource and maybe cut down on a few mistakes that could happen along the way.

MEASURE

First,  make sure you have enough space in your room to fit a papasan chair. This means measuring the space and measuring the chair. I measured the papasan's diameter across and it was 45 inches, it would fit in my room but I knew it would take up a lot of visual space. Another thing to consider is the 'tilt' space. If you want to angle the papasan chair, the space in the room can be a bit smaller.
My mom also measured the trunk of her car to see if the papasan chair would fit for transport if you are purchasing it. We ended up asking a neighbor to borrow his truck.  Measuring is an important first step!

Other items you will need to measure is the amount of rope you will need. Always consider the extra amount needed for knots.

MATERIALS

Make a list of materials needed for the project.

• Papasan Chair Frame (sans stand)
• Papasan Cushion
• Rope - We used 25-30 feet of 700 lb rated, Nylon, 1/2 inch rope
• Box Cutter- for cutting the rope
• Lighter- to seal the ends of the rope after cutting
• Hitching Ring with 2 inch Screw Eye (we used 2)
• Joist/Stud finder
• Ladder
• Nail and Hammer (Nail to show the area on the ceiling where screw eye will be installed)
• Tape (Electric)- For rope management
• Measuring Tape

KNOT KNOWLEDGE

If you happen to be a girl scout or boy scout, you may  have earned a patch for knot tying. This will come in handy. We used  two types of knots to give our structure stability, which is an important part of the installation process. The weight of a body needs to be supported by the proper balance of the structure.

Another reason to use the correct knot is because the material also has to withstand wear and tear.

We chose 3 evenly spaced points on the chair frame to tie the ropes. We used the Sailor's knot to give these areas the strongest support without damaging the frame. We also used the Blood knot at the base of the hitching ring.

We used 15 feet of rope and tied these 2 ends in at an obtuse angle to the chair frame, creating a triangle at the mid point. We then tied a 10 foot section to the chair frame and the mid point (Lariat Loop Knot) of the 15 foot length rope creating a pyramid. This 10 foot sections made the chair adjustable. We could angle or flatten the chair as we liked. The extra rope at the end of the 10 foot section was used to tie the chair to the hitching ring.

INSTALLATION

It is important to find a joist in the ceiling to secure the hanging system. A stud finder will dictate where this is. Hammer a small nail into the ceiling to mark the spot where the screw eye and hitching ring will be located. 

Make sure there is enough room between the wall and the hanging chair before you decide to put a hole in the ceiling. Our joist was a little close so we used a pull system to help keep the chair away from the wall.  This pull system also helps with the stability of the structure by adding another stress point, a place for tension to displace and even out the load.

Secure the rope to the hitching ring with a blood knot and let the fun part begin, decorating your hanging chair.

DECORATING

I bought a neutral, cream colored, plush cushion to fill in the papasan chair for comfort.  I added blue throw pillows, a few stuffed animals and decorative fox tails to make it my own.

Photo Credits To: Chandra Brown

Thanks Dad and Mom for helping me!

Warning On The Wall

There is a photo print hanging on our family room wall that can be considered to contain litigious bifurcation. My husband brought this piece home from his art excursion to Cuba. It has always been an interesting study, we keep it exposed and it is one of the first things you see when you enter the front door. It is centered above our couch where most of our living occurs. My husband and I both have had our struggle with this particular piece. I remember a time my husband wanted to sell it and banish it from our wall. His sentiment was rightly justified yet we leave it up as a silent admonition.

I've always wondered what our guests and family think about the figures presented in the photo. I'm sure the photo bemuses some of our friends, "Why do these folks keep a photo of an atheist and a communist on their wall? Are they supporters of such thinking?" I suppose some could see a Nobel Prize winning writer and a Head of State, world stage celebrities in history and leave it at that. Maybe some of the younger generation that come through our doors don't have a clue who these figure are and ignore the photo as wall filler.

Look at these two people captured in a conversation. Each has influence and power. One through the use of language and one through force of will. Both have left their mark on the world and these marks have consequences. What topic are they discussing? Maybe the exchange was as simple as, "See you later." What we do know is shortly after this photo was taken Hemingway killed himself and Castro was dealing with the Bay of Pigs invasion.

'Fidel Con Hemingway' By Osvaldo Salas
1960

I look at this photo as a warning. Atheism and Socialism are sister ideals which works against God and deceptively undermines the relationship between man and man and God and man. I look at the outcomes of these ideals and see destruction, emptiness and pain.

As we live through our appointed course in history and witness the destructive aspects of these ideologies in the world and our own country it causes us to struggle. One must look at reality and embrace the mess we find ourselves in. We can't ignore the reverberations of these models for living and how they effect people.

At times, I too, have wanted to banish the photo that encapsulates the horrors of these ideologies. Why should I give any of my precious wall space to these icons, my home is my safe haven from the world's ills? I certainly do not agree with their thinking. Yet, we must remember the ills are what we fight against. These figures that represent the opposite of what I believe will be used as a reminder of where wrong thought leads and act as an allegory.

So it stays!

I Am Not A Deist

I've read a book that has brought a subject I like, mainly, how and why people think the way they do, into a clearer view.  Of course, reading this thought provoking book caused me to ping thoughts into the vast realm of questions, answers and corrections and catechize to this solitary blog, for whom I write for myself, my family, my friends and any web travelers that somehow find themselves here.

Synopsis of Nature's God

So, I'll get to it. The book is called, Nature's God, The Heretical Origins of the American Republic, by Matthew Stewart.  Mr. Stewart pens a well written account of the revolutionary ideas that birthed our government. He begins with the reason for his inspiration, finding a copy of Ethan Allen's, Oracle of Reason, 1784, a lesser known, possibly plagiarized work of one of our Founding Revolutionaries.

Mr. Stewart gives a crash course in the stem tree branches of the philosophers our Founders gleaned their ideas from and no doubt framed their life around which lead to a formed government. The Modern Age is experiencing the repercussions and ever-evolving outcomes of the brainchild they set about in the Eighteenth Century.

He makes the point that five, free-thinking, in your face and ready for change, young men lit the revolutionary fires which layed the foundation for the more refined, palatable Founding Fathers to define and execute into the public realm.  It takes agitators to implement change otherwise status quo will reign.

These five men were Dr. Thomas Young, Ethan Allen, Thomas Paine, Timothy Matlack and James Cannon. A sixth would have been added except he separated ways with the above radicals later in life due to a change in heart regarding the principles they stood for, his name was Benjamin Rush.

Let me stop here, do you remember these names from your History classes? I could only remember two, Ethan Allen and Thomas Paine. What I was taught about them was a flash paragraph or two in a story formatted way, written in a manner of fictitious heroes. Most do not know Dr. Young was the organizer for one of the most famous events in American History, the Boston Tea Party (Samuel Adams is the one we know who lead the men to accomplish it). Why weren't these men given more of the stage? I do believe because they were the purest form of the Enlightened belief system they carried close to their hearts. These were the radicals living out their very ideas in the open. Ideas that when introduced to the mainstream, wore rough.  Ideas that needed the direction of brilliant artisans of wordplay in order to be kept alive. Enter, the eloquent, refined, educated Founding Fathers, to serve up these ideals in a palatable, rhetorical method. 

There is a propaganda machine the writers of history love to use. It involves mixed truths, revisionism, hyperbole. This master machine sways political, religious and moral thought. Debates abound over the facts of history. The debate over the Founding Fathers faith is a big one. Were they Christians, were they Deists, were they Atheists? The only way to know is by first source or contemporary source information. 

Why does it matter as to what they believed? It matters because a mis-informed mind or dumbed-down community can be controlled right into slavery. (Spiritual and physical slavery.) 

Mr. Stewart goes into great detail as to what these five paradigm changing radicals believed and what the Founding Fathers created and launched into the world. He begins with who influenced their minds and backs it up with context, first hand and contemporary quotes. It begins with master thought play artisans, most commonly labeled as philosophers.  These people are theoreticians who study human behavior, the origins of the universe and frame it with knowledge under a scope of experiences; they attempt to define life. They explain the How and Why. 

Edward Herbert, 1st Baron of Cherbury: Deist
Portrait by : Isaac Oliver (1560- 1617)

Philosophy: The Ideas Behind the American Revolution

The Enlightened crowd of the Eighteenth Century borrowed from the following thinkers in some way or another:

Philosopher                                                                             Highlight

1. Epicurus - 342 B.C.                                                            Atomist/Determinist- Swerve Theory

2. Machiavelli - 1469                                                              The Prince- Founder of Political Science

3. Thomas Hobbes - 1588                                                       Political Philosophy

4. Baruch Spinoza - 1632                                                        Father of Enlightened Science

5. John Locke - 1632                                                               Father of Liberalism

5. Anthony Ashley Cooper - Earl of Shaftesbury  - 1671       Moralist

6. Henry St. John Bolingbroke -  1678                                    Deism

7. David Hume  - 1711                                                            Skepticism/Naturalism

The main idea and philosophy derived from these men and believed by Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin  and the radical five in a very small nutshell consists of:

1. God is reduced to Nature and 'God' is functionally interchangeable with 'Nature'.  

2. The world can be defined through scientific means

3. Reason defines truth

Humanism/Reason/Science: Deist Trinity

The above tenets describe a faith in oneself or fellow man, a support of Humanism. Religion outside of theirs is just a moral pendulum good for keeping a sound society. God and religion are just useful tools to keep the strings of society healthy just as a good story told to a toddler at bedtime placates them to sleep easier than just telling them to go to bed. Some of them upheld the Christian religion as a wonderful moral maxim for living but they admit to rejecting the 'revealed' aspects of God's word. The common thread throughout these men of influence is their progressive decent from the God of the Bible.

In reality, Deism is Atheism just trying to be nice so it can get along with others. It is a form of manipulation to the benefit of the self. It is a liberation from God through free will, therefore, the individual man becomes a god unto himself.  Deism is the precursor to Modern Liberalism. Deism just throws God a bone in giving credit to the creation of the universe, but it ends there and pretty much slaps Him in the face by essentially saying, 'stay out of everything else, I know more than you through my empirical senses, although I still can't explain how I'm made and truly work through those senses (Science). Oh, I have a lot of good facts that describe the physical make up of man even though I have an incomplete picture, there is brilliance in it even, yet YOU weren't involved in any way. '

A Few Random Thoughts 

If I could draw Deism, I'd draw a box with man inside where the limitation that are already set upon him only grow smaller because a deist can't deal with the miraculous wonder of a God that participates in His Creation.  Where as following the God of the Bible puts God inside and outside the box, the box has doors and windows that are opened only when a reality is understood that beyond the self is an omnipotent God that guides us as we live in that box.  

The title of this blog is a statement. Thomas Jefferson wrote a letter to a friend, William Scot stating, "I too am an Epicurean," and proceeded to talk about how his doctrines where misrepresented. There is an irony in this letter as the Founding Fathers misrepresented the doctrines of God by reducing him to Nature and throwing out the parts of the Bible they felt were unreasonable. 

What the Founding Fathers failed to realize or did realize and rejected is the Bible is a philosophical wonder that explains more of life to an extent that science has proven it true (watch out revisionism and oppression of truth).  Even Richard Feynman, famous physicist has stepped down the ladder of Atheism and admits a being had to design the universe.  Keep Going Richard, He wants you to know Him. 

Now, I have railed against religion on this blog , some may try to equate that with a deistic principle. If you take the time to really understand what religion is through the teaching of Christ, you will realize the philosophy of His word. Following God is extremely different than following a set of rules and traditions, it is so much more.  Yes, it involves Him revealing Himself to you.

Although I am not a Deist, I am grateful for the work of the Founding Fathers. They have given a form of human government that can't be matched when compared with other forms over time. Yet, I think it is very important to know the truth of the matter,  Our Nation had heretical beginnings and it will always be tainted when God is eliminated.

Inspired Scriptures

Don't mess with God's Word: Duet. 4:2, Duet. 12:32, Psalms 119:160, Revelations 22:18-19

God's Philosophy: I Corinthians 1:19-21, I Corinthians 2: 6-8, Acts 17:18, Romans 1:20-2, John 14:6

Science in the Bible: Read this Article, Proverbs 2:6

It's ALL or Nothing with God: Revelation 3:16, Matthew 7:13, Matthew 7:21-23, Isaiah 35:8, John 14:23-24

He is Active: John 14:26, I Corinthians 2:10, I Thess. 4:8, Nehemiah 9:20

             

Parent = Teacher

I had someone ask me recently if I was a teacher. I immediately answered, "No!" I don't see myself as a teacher in the slightest. I didn't go to a school for that profession. Yet, in some ways I guess I am a teacher. I have taken on the responsibility to manage the education of my daughter, I do step in with my two cents every now and then. I am able to take the subject matter I am most familiar with and relay that information with primary and secondary sources to back the information with facts. That all falls under teaching syllabi.

This got me thinking, people in general are teachers whether we relate to the description of the word or not. We all have backgrounds, habits, interests, experiences, passions and traditions we follow. We live these day in an out and others can observe, study or listen to these ways and glean information from them.  This should make us think deeply on how we live, what we believe, what we say and do, how we spend our time, what we spend our efforts on etc. Life is too short to convey the wrong message. (Although I've noticed a pattern in my life, irony tends to follow me like a plague and I tend to be misunderstood especially when I try my best to convey truth.) Ahh, the lessons irony can teach!

If you happen to have children, you become an automatic teacher. So, to the person who asked me if I was a teacher, I must re-nig and answer with an emphatic, Yes! And I admit, I can be a good and bad one, if you care, you take the bad moments and use them too.

Parent = Teacher

God tells us teaching His ways to your children is a responsibility that is not to be taken lightly. In fact, you should live it, show it, discuss it, make it your focus, make it your source for life. The only way to find out what God's ways are, is by doing exactly what He tells a parent to do with their child (Duet. 4:10, Duet. 6:7). Talk with Him, get the facts and then walk it yourselves.  It's a circular learning model.

Deuteronomy 11: 8-9. " You shall lay upon these words of mine, in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way and when you lie down and when you rise." OK, since I'm now willing to say I am a teacher, (of a sort) I'll take the first part of this verse to expound on the principle behind the message of 'parent = teacher'.

Verse 8a- Once we've done our homework and actually talked with God about what He requires of us, we need to incorporate what He says into our thoughts, actions and deeds in order to make Him a part of who we are.

Verse8b-To bind His ways on our hands and make them frontlets to our eyes was an allegory to help us understand we need to make them permanent and at the forefront of our thoughts. Something that is a constant in our lives, something we can't live without or go a day without thinking about. God is literally in front of our face and can not be ignored.

Since teachers like to use facts to support or enhance their lessons, I'd like to take a moment and explain Verse8b a little more to help give historical context. Although the principles are real and need  no physical symbol to get the truth across the Israelites did write verses pertaining to God's precepts on slips of parchment paper and called them tephilin; or prayers. They were then rolled in a piece of black calf skin and then placed in a stiffer leather case supported by a thong which was 1 finger in width and 1 cubit long. The case was marked with the Hebrew letter called Shin; the three points of which were considered an emblem of God. The phylactery/frontlet was worn either on the arm or forehead during weekday morning prayer.

The verses written on the parchment paper included: Exodus 13:16, Duet. 6:8, Duet. 11:18, Exodus 13:9)

Many Bible scholars believe this ritual began after the Israelites returned from their exile in Babylon.

Verse 9- When you have made God the center of your life and He tells you His ways and you've applied them to your life and know them to be true because you have experienced the working dynamics of relationship ; talk about it at every opportunity with your children so they too will take the necessary steps to live in the same manner. (No ritual needed).

Parent = Teacher: Applied

In our mutual education endeavor, my daughter and I took the opportunity together to academically discuss different religions and how they compare to following God for part of our History/Geography course. I think she is beginning to understand the circular model of Duet. 11:8-9.  Go ahead and read her latest blog post and see what I mean. Following God Versus Hinduism by Alex Brown.

I truly believe children are a gift from God. If you have a child, take every opportunity to give them back to God! You won't regret it. I certainly don't and have been blessed beyond anything I could have ever imagined following God's command in Duet. 11:8-9.

Two Score and Ready For More

Last year we celebrated my parents 40th Anniversary in The Caribbean with a family reunion.  Fifteen of us gathered at The Providencial Islands for a memorable, relaxing time. I wanted to surprise them with a long lasting gift to commemorate their marriage. I knew I wanted to use art, something that can be lasting and has depth and meaning but how does one accomplish choosing the subject matter when there are over forty years of inspiration between a couple?

I tried to capture my parents in loving snuggles while at the resort, I even told them to mock kiss as if they were in a romance scene, trying to capture the moment of inspiration. They were not privy to my scheme to have an artist depict their forty years together as a gift, they probably thought I was nuts asking them to hug and snuggle for photo sessions while trying to relax in paradise. 

We returned home and I was at a loss on how to accomplish my goal. The pictures I took were hazy or not framed properly, what was a girl to do? Since the photo part of my gift wasn't coming together I thought I should write something to help those creative juice ideas flow. I asked myself about love, romance, marriage, vows and a thought kept appearing in my head. 'Love has so many faces'. How can I pinpoint Forty years of a couples life? It's impossible. 

I thought, start at the beginning, when they first met. I pulled out my Mom's high school portrait. The one I love so much of her and have showcased on this blog before. I look at her fresh features, her champagne locks tumbling over her shoulder, the effortless beauty she presents. I smile at the confidence in her amber eyes and know this portrait is inspiring. (Funny, later my mom told me she was reluctant to take this photo and just wanted to get it over with.)

I had my sister sneak a picture of my Dad's photo to me because I didn't have one. When she sent it, I knew these were the art pieces waiting to become my gift. My Dad's high school portrait is striking. The All Star American sports King with dashing jaw line jumped off the screen. His eyes cast a promising, strong yet unassuming structure about his face. The strength of his kind demeanor makes your eyes rest on his likeness with a sense of comfort.

After studying these two young love birds, I understood why they would have been attracted to each other and want to spend the rest of their lives figuring out what love means. Their youthful faces in their school year portraits taken about the time they met (my dad was in college) was a beginning. One with hopes, dreams, wants and willingness to navigate whatever life throws in the path together.

Without further ado, the following poem was inspired by their portraits and by their life example I have witnessed as their child. 

Revealing Their Art Gift
Photo by: Chandra Brown

Forty Years

Fix your eyes upon this face

and think of bygone time

of youth,

of beauty,

of grace.

A time when life was ahead of you

full of questions,

of hopes,

of dreams.

Next to you sits a part

with whom betwixt shared forty years

of the experiences,

of the details

of life.

With whom you forged a path

for family,

for friendship,

for love.

A path that speaks

of authenticity,

of wisdom,

of strength.

Fix your eyes upon this face

as time continuously unfolds

and treasure how two parts became one

by promise,

by deed,

by God.

Dedicated to wonderful parents!

Love,

Nathan, Chandra and Alex

The following Graphite Portraits and Time Lapse Video are produced by Artist: Brooke Burnaugh

Her talents have been a great source of Joy for my family. Thank you Brooke!

Then and Now
By: Chandra Brown