Art appreciation

My mother was a life-long curator of refrigerator art. Her entire life there was some drawing, some article, and some photo that highlighted her children, grandchildren, grandnieces and grandnephews. As anyone fortunate enough to be raised in a home that appreciates fine refrigerator art, one knows what a priceless collection it is.

What makes a work of art great?

I think in part it’s the name and reputation of the artist. Even more, I think it’s the feelings and emotions the artwork stirs in the eye of the beholder. Often no one else will “get it” or be moved by it, yet, the curator of the collection knows the story and the talent behind the work which is a major reason why the artwork, and the artist, is so cherished.

Of course, all that holds true for refrigerator art and artist.

For anyone who has ever had a drawing, the popular stick-figure family portrait, a glue-paper-tape creation, a colored picture, or a magnet made from popsicle sticks prominently displayed on the refrigerator of a parent or grandparent one knows their artwork, and more importantly, their very self is held in highest esteem.

My mother never visited the Louvre and she never toured the Metropolitan Museum of Art. She did, however, in tewrms of appreciation and care and love of the artist create and maintain a gallery just as impressive.

For the birds

Perhaps you are aware that a pair of bald eagles has nested in Pittsburgh on the banks of the Monongahela near the South Side of the city.

Having never seen a bald eagle in the wild (if you can call our fair city wild) I set out on the walking trail that parallels the Mon River and proceeded to walk to where the news reports said one would be able to possibly see the bald eagles.

It was a pleasant trek, the snow was swirling softly, it was brisk, and I was on a quest. My focus was intent on seeing a bald eagle. I walked looking up, scanning the hillsides, and hoping to catch a glimpse of the big bird.

I walked two miles and saw nothing. Zippo. Neither a fly-by or a feather.

On the walk back, I was much more at ease, the quest on hiatus, and I began to enjoy the surrounding sights. It was then I saw directly in front of me that flash of red --- a cardinal (the bird not the boys gathering in Rome) flew straight across the path and to make sure I saw him perched on the tree near the side of the trail.

As I have noted in some of the beauty marks listed in this blog, I find the cardinal to be an absolutely stunning bird, regal in bearing and made all the more bright and becoming when flying in the backdrop of white snow.

And there he was. He paused and looked at me as if to say sure, you didn’t see a bald eagle, yet, I’m pretty impressive and quite a looker as you very well know.

I remarked, “Truly, you are a beauty.” And, I learned an important lesson.

Don’t be so locked-in and laser-focused that you miss the WOW moments found in the blessed ordinariness and gifts of the day. Sure, we are each impressed by the crash of ocean waves, the blue heron flying up the creek, and the rainbow arching across the sky. Yet, we must be aware and present enough to also be awed by the steady flow of the familiar rivers of our hometowns, of the sight of robins flitting in the snow-dusted grass of late winter, and in the stages of the moon.

Learn to find the extra in the ordinary.

sj;

Calls

Today, 3 March is the birthday of Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone. In this time in which seemingly everyone carries a mobile phone, i-phone or smart phone --- thanks, Alexander. The invention of the telephone was a giant step on improvement of communication which leads to stronger connections which lead to deals struck, friendships strengthened, and news conveyed.

I preached a sermon on the tangible reminders of my faith journey and proposed that what if in heaven there was a room that contained all of the tangible, reach-out-and-touch items that were central to an individual’s faith journey.

If that was so, than in my “markers of a faith journey room” there would be Sarah Waltenbaugh’s telephone. Sarah was one of the faithful saints of my home church, Freeport United Methodist. A lifelong member who raised her family and they in turn their children in the church, she was a stalwart, steady, present, an anchor.

During my youth, I became more involved in church. I attended youth group and during youth Sundays or on United Methodist Student Day when the younger set took responsibility for the morning worship, I would have a role in the service. It may be leading the liturgy, doing the prayer for the offering, or reading some bit in the sermon --- a part played in the larger group effort.

No matter what I did, that afternoon following worship, the phone would ring and I knew it was Sarah Waltenbaugh calling me to say what I nice job I did and how wonderful it was and what a special young lady was I.

Those affirmations made a huge difference. I know those calls helped lead me to where I was in place to hear the call to ordained ministry and to answer. God is clever --- my calling started years before with a phone call.

Make time this day and week to reach out and call someone whom you haven’t spoken to in awhile. Take the time to connect with a young person, give them a word of encouragement, a note of support, a listen.

It is interesting that the first words Alexander Graham Bell spoke on that first phone call were, “Watson, come here. I need you.” We all want to and need to hear those words. Make it happen.

sj;