Curiosity Journal: July 20, 2011

Apologies for the belated post today.Each Wednesday I’m recording a Curiosity Journal, a recap of the past week. Tag words are: reading, playing, learning, reacting and writing.

:::

Some of you have mentioned that you’re keeping a Curiosity Journal, as well. Leave your link in the comments so that we can visit and enjoy your weekly review.

Reading

When The High Calling announced that their pick for the book club was Breath for the Bones: Art, Imagination and Spirit: A Reflection on Creativity and Faith, by Luci Shaw, I decided to get a copy earlier rather than later.In the Amazon search bar, I typed in “breath for bones” and stared at the results page, puzzled, and then amused. Instead of a photo of a thoughtful, poetic book on art and faith, I was staring at things like Zuke’s Z-Ridge Fresh Breath Dental Chew Bones, and Breath-A-Licious Dental treats for dogs.I added a few search terms and got past the dog treats to finally locate the book.A few quotes:

Art is what we say, what we sing, and what we show (in bodily movement or the work of our hands) about what is bubbling up within us, that which cries for recognition and response. Because it seems so special, so wondrous, so extraordinary to us—this upwelling from our creative imagination—we want to share it with kindred spirits. (Shaw 5-6)

Also, “Imagination gives us pictures by which to see things the way they can be, or the way they are underneath” (Shaw 29).There’s great delight in using our art to draw attention to the Lord Himself and what He’s revealed to us:

We are each, in the image of our Creator, created to create, to call others back to beauty and holiness and to the truth about God’s nature. We are each created to stop and cry to someone preoccupied with the superficial, “Look!” or “Listen!” when, in something beautiful and meaningful, we hear a message from beyond us. (Shaw 33-34)

I love that last part, the idea of hearing a message to share, and crying out to someone preoccupied with the superficial, Look! Listen!Isn’t this why many of us blog?

Playing

My daughter and I played around together to find camera settings that would let in more light as we photographed crystals hanging from a favorite lamp.I love how the washed out background brings all the attention to the detail of the lamp and the crystal.My daughter tried a creative angle with the light washing out the background so much that you kind of forget what’s back there.Same here. You can see that there’s a soft, filmy curtain and light streaming in, but my eye goes straight to the crystal. I like how the back one is blurring, fading.

Learning

My husband has been researching used cars and introduced me to a safety feature called Electronic Stability Control (ESC), which, according to David Champion, Senior Director of Automotive Testing for Consumer Reports, “is the single most important advance in auto safety since the development of the seatbelt.” ESC helps drivers maintain control of the vehicle in turns, especially on slippery roads, using sensors to detect angles and sideways motions and then applies a brake to one or more wheels or reduces engine power. Very nice features for teen drivers…or any driver. Last week I told you about the Pomodoro Technique for time management. I’ve tried it a few days, and I think it really is an effective method for pacing myself. I used this online countdown timer. It was convenient because most of my work was right at my desk.

Reacting

My friend Charity has learned that cancer has returned. She writes of her river of tears. But she also writes,

I choose a wobbly faith in a Sovereign God who loves me over cursing God and dying.

I may cry a river a tears, but I pray they will gather in a pool and bring life in a dry season.

Writing

I continue to deal with a wheezy cough and now a sinus infection. It’s left me so congested and tired that I’ve been unable to focus or function well. As a result, it’s been challenging to write. I have nothing worth reporting under this heading.Works Cited:

• Shaw, Luci. Breath for the Bones: Art, Imagination, and Spirit. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2007. Print.
• Images: “Question Proposed” photo by Ethan Lofton. Used under a Creative Commons license via Flickr.com. Book & Dingo Dental Sticks, daughter’s homemade henna art, lamp and crystals photos by Ann Kroeker (tall lamp photo by S. Kroeker).

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

There’s always more to come: subscribe to Ann Kroeker by e-mail

Want to slow down in our fast-paced world? Check out Not So Fast.

“Like” me on Facebook.

Follow me on Twitter.