Such a difference! Waking up on a Saturday morning
Saturday 17th May, 2025
08:33
Such a difference, such a difference! Waking up on a Saturday morning, all those tasks are not in my mind; all those possible expectations and demands of others are absent.
I was thinking last night, no wonder so many people connect with the film ‘The Matrix.’ It is a metaphor for our lives. We leave our homes and enter a world that can threaten us. It demands; it can be ruthless, it can also be pleasant and encouraging, but the threats remain.
We want to return to Zion, or at least the Nebuchadnezzar, to escape the threat of The Matrix.
It feels like today that I have once again survived The Matrix and have returned home.
23 02
We had a wonderful morning at the Quakers. We have been running a series of workshops on ‘The Spirit of….’ Today we had ‘Spirit of Art.’
As is the way of these events, a friend leads us by sharing their story of how they see Art reflecting the Spirit.
They circulated a self-portrait of Rembrandt
I wouldn’t have noticed the eyes if they hadn’t said. Although the painting is heading towards 400 years old, the eyes are the eyes of today. What I mean is that often I look at a painting and see the past; in this painting, I see, in his eyes, the present.
In small groups, we spoke of pieces of art that connected with us. A friend spoke as to how Zurbaran’s painting of A Cup of Water and a Rose brings inwardly a stillness. I felt moved by what they said, not that I could see what they felt, but I could feel what they felt.
Another friend brought Rembrandt’s painting of Jacob blessing Joseph’s sons. They were touched by the tenderness conveyed.
I also brought a piece of art. I, too, connect with it as it was created by a friend who sent it to me after a difficult period.
They are my oldest active friend. I have known them since I was 4. I met her on my first day at school. Neither of us cried as our mothers left us, whilst the rest of the class cried after their mummies. She has become a sister to me. She also knows that a few years ago, I made the penguin a sign of friendship. In my head, I created an Order of Penguins in which those with whom I feel a close friendship belong.
It was a beautiful thing to do to create a piece of art to express love.
What piece of art would you show, and what is the story behind it?
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