Monday, October 31, 2011

Boston Impressions (at night)





and at night
from a distance
she sparkles like gold

and there are streams of silver
and red to
behold




but as one enters a narrow
cobblestone street

there are stories that meet
the eye

like the girl "lighting up"
whose  boyfriend waits at the end
of the block

others walk by on  their way
to the "t"
or maybe a bar to see if there be
someone to talk to
there

the air is soft and quiet
and this night
with all it's artificial light
and realistic humanity
ticks by










Saturday, October 29, 2011

Boston Impressions (along the freedom trail)



























 freedom most oft comes
by the cost
of human life

faith
and the leadership and bravery
of a few good men

not to forget
prayer
and ingenuity


*"We on this continent should never forget that men first crossed the Atlantic not to find soil for their ploughs but to secure liberty for their souls."~Robert J. McCracken





















Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Boston Impressions (Scenes from the sidewalk #3)



thank you mr. artist,
whoever you are,
for being bold enough
to stay with simple lines
to dip your brush in
colors bright
to speak of home in
hushed yet brilliant
light

*I found myself one afternoon on Newbury street looking through the windows of a small art gallery. These two pictures really captured my eye so i went in for a closer look. The artist's name is Hamilton Aguiar. I love the primitive look of his paintings.....the angular lines and the bright spalshes of color. They remind me to keep my life simple. Thank you Mr. Aguiar.




















Monday, October 24, 2011

Boston Impressions (scenes from the sidewalk, #2)
















simply walking down
a cobblestone sidewalk

such a feast for the eyes
it can be

oh shades of lovely yellow green,
you so envelope
me

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Boston Impressions (Scenes from the sidewalk)















 

Oh, give me color
sunshine
and glass
and watch my achy feet
disappear to the past!
J

This image was captured looking out from the store to the sidewalk. I like the foot in the upper left corner! Gives the photo a more realistic feeling.


Saturday, October 22, 2011

Boston Impressions (Scenes from the Subway)


still

yet
racing through
space

or a colorful tunnel
called history

holding on
to what we do
and what we think
ourselves to be

contemplating and
waiting for
our final destination
to be called

before stepping
off


*I had fun experimenting with my camera while riding the “T” as they call it in Boston. I was hoping to capture the various feelings one experiences while on the t. I liked this image as it caught “speed”, “aloneness”, “togetherness,” and something I can’t quite name but find intriguing. …something about time and eternity. It (the image) reminds me that i can be sitting still with strangers, speeding through a dark tunnel, while the world spins on its axis and circumnavigates the sun while the whole galaxy flies through space. Puts things in perspective. :) I'm glad it's not "my" holding on that keeps all things together. :)






















Thursday, October 20, 2011

Boston Impressions (Copley Square.....the pigeons)
















and before i leave Copley Square
i must show you the pigeons there......
















And who would care about a photo of pigeons one might naturally ask (including myself).
But as i scrolled through Boston pictures for the blog this morning i was struck by a wonderful beauty in the first photo.....an image of two people sharing some time out of their day with each other and with the pigeons. There is compassion, sharing, and humanity in the image. And it wouldn't have those qualities without the common pigeons.

The second photo reminded me that all the times i've seen pigeons, i've never really looked at their eyes. Aren't they amazing! A reminder to me this morning to "look closer" today. Have a good one!

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Copley Square (Solitary in the city)










































Language has created the word "loneliness" to express the pain of being alone.
And it has created the word "solitude" to express the glory of being alone.”
                                   ~Paul Tillich

*I hope that most of your aloneness is the aloneness of “solitude”

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Boston Impressions (Copley Square...the people)





















Hi all, i'm back. I've been away from my computer due to muscle spasms and contemplation. Quite a combo don't you think? But, i haven't forgotten that i'm featuring the "people of Copley Square". Such as this lovely young lass busily going about her day.  She caught my eye immediately as she made her way down the sidewalk across the street from where i was sitting.

As i review the images i snapped of her that day, i see "life", "vitality", "beauty" and "hope". Those concepts juxtaposed against the grief and shock i feel at the sudden death of Mike Wells, (see previous blog post) leave me in a contemplative mood. Intellectually, i am of course, aware of death's reality, but emotionally, i don't know that i have truly come to terms with it. So when someone as young and vibrant as Mike crosses over the bar, i find myself in shock once again.

And all i can imagine Mike saying to me at this time is " Go, Live, Love,. Don't be afraid of death. God will be with you in your deepest places of sadness. It's all so short, you know. We'll all be together so very very soon."

As i think back to Copley Square when i was viewing such a variety of people coming and going that beautiful September morning, i am reminded of the preciousness that each and every person holds in the heart of His maker. Trees are astounding, susnsets thrilling, the ocean unfathomable, BUT people, PEOPLE are God's greatest love and most prized possession. That is why "love" is the highest calling of all.

So my prayer today is : Bless this beautiful auburn haired young woman as she goes about her day. Touch her and use her to bring love and beauty to someone who needs it today. Thank you for the inspiration she has brought to me as i witness her lovely vitality.
And make Mike's faith, like that of a mustard seed, grow into a tree that is strong, steady and yielding of much fruit to be partaken of by those he left behind. I know if he had been with me in Copley square he would have been relishing the sight of so many people to love and striking up conversations with them every chance he got. :)

WE are not all Mikes, nor are we all lovely young auburn haired lasses, but we are all unique, valuable treasures with various gifts to offer. Let us just go about our day giving what we have. :)

I will end with a short quote i find encouraging as i face death's reality:
"Death unto a child of God is but passing through a dark entry out of one little dusky room of His Father's house into another that is fair, and large and glorious."

Note:
Sorry for getting away from my promise to keep my postings short, simple and to the point. Today the blog has been for me a tool of processing. I appreciate your understanding. Blessing to you.

Friday, October 14, 2011

Boston Impressions (Copley Square....the people)

The library, Trinity Church, and the Prudential building are all great sights to see at Coplely Square. But it was people watching I enjoyed the most. I loved seeing the people I’ll be featuring in the next few posts. How I wish I could get to know them all. Which leads me to say a thanks to God for a friend I met several years ago who had a profound and grace giving effect on my life. I haven’t seen him in years but learned today of his sudden passing while in Costa Rica. I’ll feature a picture at the end of today’s post in his honor.



While sitting in front of the library I noticed this gentleman sitting there too. I wonder what his story is:




This is just the type of person that my friend Mike Wells would be so comfortable with. Mike literally traveled the world over sharing the love of God with people. I met him when I was in college at KSU and I have never met anyone before or since who exuded such love and enthusiasm for life and for sharing the love of God with others. He hand engraved a leather cover for a study Bible and gave it to me as a gift those many years ago. It has been my closest treasure ever since. I pray this day for his beautiful wife Betty and his three children.

                                If you would like to learn more about Mike see:
                                http://abidinglife.com/2009/

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Impressions of Boston (Copley Square--The Farmer's Market)


After an enjoyable browse through the library we crossed the street to the center of Copley Square, where we enjoyed the weekly farmer’s market. How lucky for us, as we didn’t know if would be held that day. If you’ve followed this blog for any time at all you know I’m a farm girl and I love the images I find at farmer’s markets so can’t let this one go by without sharing a couple of the yummy things we saw.




It was especially fun to see big city life and tidbits of farm life mingled together.


Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Impressions of Boston (Copley Square--in the library)
















This stone lion bathed in golden light was one of my favorite things in the library. There were two of them facing one another across the wide marble steps. The first thing to come to mind when I saw them was beloved Aslan from the C.S. Lewis Chronicles of Narnia books. Here are a couple of samplings from my many favorite quotes about Aslan :


"Lucy leant her head on the edge of the fighting-top and whispered, "Aslan, Aslan, if ever you loved us at all, send us help now." The darkness did not grow any less, but she began to feel a little - a very little - better...

An albatross...circled three times round the mast and then perched for an instant on the crest of the gilded dragon at the prow... But no one except Lucy knew that as it circled the mast it had whispered to her, "Courage, dear heart," and the voice, she felt sure, was Aslan's. "
                ~The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, by C. S. Lewis

"When Aslan bares his teeth winter meets its death. When He shakes his mane, we shall have spring again. "                                                  
               ~The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, by C.S. Lewis

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Boston Impressions (Copley Square....the library)
















One of the areas not to be missed on a Boston visit is Copley Square. Hopefully the next few posts will give you a feeling of what it is like. On one side of the square is the beautiful Boston Public Library. I learned that this beautiful building was the first publicly supported municipal library in the United States, the first large library open to the public in the United States, and the first public library to allow people to borrow books and other materials and take them home to read and use. It had never occurred to me before to imagine a world without a library.


Around the top of the library is the inscription:

THE PUBLIC LIBRARY OF THE CITY OF BOSTON BUILT BY THE PEOPLE AND DEDICATED TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING.

Today this image reminds me to be thankful for wonderful libraries the world over. I think I’ll stop by ours today.

“No possession can surpass, or even equal a good library, to the lover of books. Here are treasured up for his daily use and delectation, riches which increase by being consumed, and pleasures that never cloy.” ~John Alfred Landford



Monday, October 10, 2011

Boston Impressions (box fan)























A simple fan it is
Like the one at home in my bedroom
Or the one in mom and dad’s kitchen
On the farm

It’s like the ones my adult sons
Go to sleep to

Just a simple fan
In a
Window


* “It's surprising how much memory is built around things unnoticed at the time.”
                                            ~Barbara Kingsolver, Animal Dreams

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Boston Impressions (Window Boxes)
















As I walked down the quiet backstreets of the Beacon Hill area, I fell in love afresh…

with simple window boxes.

They gave me that wonderful “life is good” feeling and made me feel like I was “home.”

















I would venture to say that just seeing the window boxes in Beacon Hill is worth the air fare to Boston. J


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Saturday, October 8, 2011

Boston Impressions (Solitude and Society)























Seeing this solitary window behind this solitary tree on a street in bustling Boston reminded me of the following quote:

"Solitude is as needful for the imagination
as society is wholesome for the character."
                          ~James Russell Lowell

Today i am thankful for both solitude AND society and I am aware that i desparately need them both.

Friday, October 7, 2011

Boston Impressions (what the windows whispered)























through one
i was looking in

through the other
out

both whispered:

“let simplicity
be your stay
this surreal September
day”


Thursday, October 6, 2011

Impressions of Boston (Windows)

Oh where shall I begin…..6 days in Boston, camera in hand. I could sooooo bore you with trip pictures. BUT, it truly is my goal to NOT bore anyone who takes a moment to peek at the blog. So, I’ve decided to “yes”, share trip pictures…..BUT, to share those I find most unusual….and perhaps a few of my “experiments”. I hope you enjoy this series of “Boston Impressions”. Keep in mind that I’m intentionally leaving out some pretty postcard type shots because I have a feeling you may have seen that kind already. I do believe Boston may be one of the most beautiful cities I’ve had the privilege of walking my little legs off in!!!! I was very impressed by the cleanliness of the city and the beauty found in ordinary spaces. Here’s to Boston, Bean Town, Home of the Red Sox, the Old North Church and everybody’s favorite bar…”Cheers”. J( They serve some mean fish and chips there.)  As I came home with over 500 photos, (don’t worry, you won’t be seeing them all) I’ll do this series in segments of subjects. Think I’ll start with windows as I so loved the variety and creativity I witnessed in them.

















My thought on viewing windows such as these:

whoever you are
whoever you be
you’ve added beauty
for all to see

*this Kansan thanks you