Faith, color, architecture, symmetry. When I considered this photograph, I thought of so many themes that could best tie it in to living a choice life. I could ask, Where do you find faith, not necessarily religious, but faith in your craft, faith in your actions, faith in nature? Or take color. These soft golds and yellows evoke the peace of warmth, comfort. Where do you turn for peace? And then there's architecture. How about describing the structure of your passion? Does it bring a symmetry to your life? A balance?
But I discounted all those themes for this one.
Look at what hands create. At what perseverance builds. At what dedication unfolds. At what reverence shines. At what faith inspires.
But mostly, see what our hands are capable of, and begin your creation.
~Joanne
Nice. On your creative theme here, it makes me think of the architect who envisioned it and the engineers and craftsmen who made it happen.
ReplyDeleteThis is such an inspiring post, Joanne. I can't help but to want to begin creating something new. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's indeed amazing what we come up with when we've set our mind to create something. It's not always the big picture that counts at the start, but how we get there.
ReplyDeleteSo inspiring.
ReplyDeleteDonna - There's always a team behind the creation, in some way, isn't there.
ReplyDeleteCafe Fashionista - With the New Year around the corner, it's a great time for New work :)
J.L. - So true. One step at a time, layer by layer, and that creation builds to something beautiful.
ReplyDeleteColette - Glad to inspire this Merry Wednesday.
Like this theme! From the bigger picture, you brought it right back to us, our own creativity, with our own hands. Great!
ReplyDeleteAll good and great gifts come from God. I do believe there is a creative spirit. Look what we have made! Look what we are all capable of doing.
ReplyDeleteA few years ago, I read a quote by Dr. Robert Schuller: "What would you do if you knew you would not fail?" I try to remember this every day.
ReplyDeleteFaith, color, architecture, symmetry...these can all be created or sustained with hands...poignant post, Joanne.
It is amazing what beauty the hands can do. Love this!
ReplyDeleteTereas
Beautifully said Joanne. It never ceases to amaze me what we are capable of doing with our hands, when we have the inspiration and determination to do so. And I think this photograph just illustrates that so incredibly well:)
ReplyDeleteThe art that hands are responsible for ever amazes me, as does the connection between the mind and the body. Combined with perseverance and dedication, the end result is often magic.
ReplyDeleteWow, I love thinking of what our hands can create with determination--especially in light of this photo.
ReplyDeleteCatherine Denton
I think one of the worst things about this modern life and culture is that now so few people actually make things. Time was, not so long ago, that people made much of what they needed. so much craftsmanship and the joy and pride of making is lost now.
ReplyDeleteBreathtaking photo and inspiring words. This church is lovely.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful picture and post. I do believe that building something like that church--the time and devotion it takes--requires believing in something larger than yourself--whatever that may be. There seems to be something inside everyone--me, too--that wants to create something that expresses the inspiration and add it to the eternal human conversation.
ReplyDeleteMy Pastor said something Sunday that struck me. "God invites us to join the work." We play a part in the process.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful invitation!
Beautiful! Reminds me of the cathedrals I saw on a trip to England.
ReplyDeletePatricia - I'm sure it took many hands to build that beautiful church, but without those hands? No church.
ReplyDeleteMary - You said it in one word - capable! We all have capable hands to create to their own calling.
Andrea - Somehow our faith shows in what we're creating, don't you think?
JW - There's much power in our mere hands, power to evoke much thought.
ReplyDeleteValerie - Inspiration and determination are a necessary part of the equation. There will always be obstacles to get around, and those qualities you mention help to maneuver.
Cynthia - Art is filled with so many different connections, that mind/body connection being so crucial.
Catherine - This photo always somehow puts that into perspective for me.
ReplyDeleteEllen - I agree. When, in today's culture, do we ever see a church like this one being built?
Carol - Glad to provide the inspiration here at Whole Latte Life :)
Linda - Your comment is a blog post in itself. How much of art does become an eternal human conversation? Wow, we could really go off in so many beautiful directions with that thought.
ReplyDeleteTamika - The creative process is definitely a work of sorts, as we wind our way through it.
Stacy - This church is in the heart of a small, working-class CT city.
We are, in fact the most awesome creation of God. With Him we can do anything.
ReplyDeleteThe picture is just breathtakingly beautiful sweetie.
God bless and have yourself a wonderfully blessed and beautiful Christmas surrounded by those you hold dear! :o)
It's amazing how one photo can inspire so many themes, and how each of us will interpret it a different way.
ReplyDeleteWhat our hands are capable...with perseverance, as you say. That's the key.
ReplyDeleteNezzy - Thanks so much, wishing you the same happy thoughts :)
ReplyDeleteStina - So true. Somehow, we see it through our own lives' eyes I guess.
Margaret - Without perseverance, whatever we're endeavoring just won't happen.
Hi Joanne, such a deep question today. I have never thought about where I find the faith to create. Perhaps it first started when I was inspired by the enthusiasm of other creative women who helped me to believe in myself and in the value of creative imagination. Those who showed me by their example that creativity and personal expression was worth the all the time and effort that I need to put into it. Perhaps the desire to create comes from looking at all the life and beauty around me, Have a wonderful evening! Delisa :)
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing that can't be done, if we put our heart, mind and soul into it.
ReplyDeleteYou're so right that there are multiple appropriate themes for this photo that one could reflect on. But, I think you have picked a very thought provoking theme with 'creation'. I'm going to reflect some more on it and how I 'create' in my life. Thanks for the prompt.
ReplyDeleteDelisa - That's the best inspiration, all the life and beauty around us ...
ReplyDeleteJanet - That sounds like the ingredients of faith in our creativity - heart, mind and soul :)
These are all fantastic questions. Very thoughtful. For me, I can't separate faith from religion because I believe all good things come from God. I find strength in my talents knowing he gave them to me. I find beauty in creation because He made it for people to enjoy. I find happiness and peace in architecture and other things of beauty knowing it's a talent that God gave to someone else to create. It's really so amazing when you think about it. In a small way, our talents He's given us help us to be like him because we get the opportunity to create as he does.
ReplyDeleteAnd just as a side note, in today's society there are beautiful buildings still being created to God. Have you ever seen the temples built by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints? If you appreciate architecture, check them out. They are lovely! http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/temples/
ReplyDeleteI catch my breath at scenes such as this, maybe for the reasons you mention. Merry Christmas, Joanne.
ReplyDeleteLovely post. You're right. There are so many themes that could be pulled from the photo, but most importantly, we're all capable of creating. Happy Christmas.
ReplyDeleteSuch beauty. "What faith inspires" -- I'll be thinking about that for the rest of the day.
ReplyDeleteNisa - I am always amazed at how much dialogue one photograph can inspire! I'll definitely check out your link ...
ReplyDeleteSharon - So do I, and so I just had to take the picture when I saw it. Merry Christmas to you, too.
Rosalind - I think so too, each in our own unique way.
ReplyDeleteBeth - It's amazing how reverberating that statement can be.
Such a beautiful altar. "If you can imagine it, you can achieve it." W.A Ward.
ReplyDeleteLove this. Love this place and the memories we have here.
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful. I love cathedrals.
ReplyDelete