Take Me There

My dad and I somehow came upon a quick talk about art, and then he practically blew me out of my seat. He told me why he loved art, why it was beautiful.

Because it takes you somewhere.

Perhaps that is why I love it so much, because I would rather be there, than here.

Trees

Trees are one of my favorite metaphors. The metaphor of trees. One could play with it forever. A lifetime of looking, staring, memorizing tree after tree, limb after limb, size after size, strength, reach, branch, arms, hands, roots....Love it!

And these two I believe are currently my favorite because, of course, of what they mean to me. I literally just went out driving, wherever the car would take me, and I found this back road, that mainly trucks use to avoid the freeways before getting back on the freeways. It is rural and open ( you can tell by the cows that are grazing in between the trees in the distance). Open space to open space. A great break for the eyes and heart from the dirty, crowded, stressful city of Sacramento (after living in the Norwest, Sacramento is all of these things). Open space opens up room inside for relaxation and a sense of freedom.

I didn't notice these now friends of mine at first. It took a couple drives before my eyes could drive straight and look around at the scenery at the same time, but soon I was able to. Soon after that I was able to know where on the long stretch they were so I could stop and take their picture and talk to them and tell them they are noticed, loved, and appreciated and nothing better happen to them so we, or just I, could enjoy them for a lifetime at least. Now I stop whenever I can, and I recently took this picture of them. I knew I wanted the world to love and appreciate them as much as I do. I wanted the world to get lost in the message they had to share with us.

Tree on left is me.

Tree on right is Jesus.

He grows up. I am rooted in Him and kinda grow out, then up, then out. The branches farthest away from Him are the deadest. Closest to Him, the more full of life.

See, metaphors. Beautiful metaphors.

Finity: Cling To The Infinite

In every one's lifetime they experience death, either someone else's or their own. I found out a friend of mine from high school passed away. And though I thought I understood how everything has its allotted time and nothing more here on earth, this friend's very early passing reminded me just how finite we all are.

This computer I am at, is finite. Music I am listening to, as we know it, is finite. I am finite. This earth, as we continue destroying it at rapidly increasing rates, is finite. Surrounded by finitude I catch myself often longing for more, needing more.

Death does that to us. It drops finity into our lives and makes us understand and question reality: Is there something after this life? If so, do we long to be eternal? Or do we want this to be it?

I long for more personally, but I didn't cling to more until I was aware, physically aware that I was finite, till God had me face Death. Now I cling to His infinitude, as Tozer names it. I just wish it wouldn't take us experiencing finite things to cling to the Infinite One. If only we lived for the Infinite without reminders of our finity.

Lord,
May we cling to the Infinite, Your Infinitude without all the reminders. But if it is time for a reminder, may we use it to cling to each other and to You more. I hope Lord my friend is enjoying being Your friend in heaven. I hope he is enjoying Your Infinity.


P.S. Yes I am pretty sure I made up the word "finity," but I like it.