Kendall Smith, No-Div
Kendall is an elementary science teacher and an avid lover of books, nature, and long walks. She is easily distracted by thunderstorms and loves a good conversation over coffee.
Back in my college days, I had the opportunity to take lots of art classes. One of them was an art history class. Although much of the content is lost somewhere in the folds of my brain, something I haven’t forgotten are the artists who painted themselves into their creations. This became a popular way to express one’s self, starting in the 15th century (the Renaissance period of art) and continuing today. "Every painter paints himself" was the maxim back in the day. In many of these famous paintings, artists like Raphael, Van Eyke, and even Michelangelo hid their faces somewhere in the artwork--and always, the eyes are looking straight ahead to the viewer. It’s like they’re daring us to find them!
Twenty years later, one of my favorite things to do is to take long walks. I call it: the Discipline of Walking Slowly and Noticing Things. Well, actually I just made that name up right now, but I like it so much I think I will keep using it. On my walks, one of my favorite things to notice and pick up are seeds. Last year, I collected jars of burr oak acorns, sweet gum prickly balls, mini acorns, and other interesting seeds. I don’t know why...I’m just drawn to them. Despite the differences in size, shape and texture, each of these teeny seeds has inside of it the ingredients to grow into a tree that is taller than buildings and lives longer than people. Perhaps the most amazing thing about trees is that they have the ability to reproduce themselves each year--growing new seeds to continue their species. Ironically, they are fully mature and ready to do their best work in the fall...right as the rest of the natural world is getting ready to die. It is the tree’s last effort at life--throwing out it’s seeds, along with the remnants of the once-green leaves that also drift to the ground.
Death gives way to the hope of life. Every fall. Every winter. And every spring, we rejoice again at the gift of green sprouts that have miraculously been made new during the long, cold winter. Seeds are reminders of this. It’s almost as if, built into creation, are images of the Artist. The Creator of this masterpiece is looking directly at us, inviting us to look more closely--to see what else there is to find. Maybe seeds are one way that God, The Creator, calls us to see Him in his work. “I am New Life! I am Resurrection!” And seeds are only just the beginning! He’s left His fingerprints all over Creation. Maybe the Discipline of Walking Slowly and Noticing Things is something that you would find helpful? If so, walk. And notice things. And let your eyes, ears, heart and mind search for the artist. He’s there! Just waiting for you to see him.