Each Wednesday I’ve been recording a Curiosity Journal to recap the previous week using these tag words: reading, playing, learning, reacting and writing.
:::
Reading
I gave up on Bonhoeffer—Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy
, that is—and returned it to the library. Too thick for me to get through at the moment.
Playing
We had pizza with friends. That was fun.
Learning
One afternoon I was at Kroger with my youngest daughter. The two of us were browsing eye shadow, looking for a neutral color combination that I could try. I don’t wear much makeup, and she doesn’t wear any, so it was one of those blind leading the blind moments.I pulled out a little container that showed three colors together. “How can I know which color goes where?” I wondered aloud.My daughter shrugged. We moved down the line and found another pack that had instructions. On the back were diagrams of an eye that indicated where each color would be applied, one, two, three; base, lid, crease. On the colors themselves—on the actual makeup—the company had stamped the words “base,” “lid,” and “crease.””Look!” I exclaimed. My daughter raced over. “Look how simple they made it,” I continued, pointing to the diagrams and markings. “Step one, two, and three. It’s all labeled and everything.”She flipped it to the back and then to the front. Then she looked up with a huge grin and exclaimed, “Idiot-proof makeup!”I laughed out loud. “Perfect!”
Reacting
On Sunday, our pastor reminded us of the beautiful reality that Jesus made it possible for us to have His Father as our Father. Through Jesus, we’re adopted into the family of God and can be called children of God.We are precious, so precious. “See,” God says to His people, “I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.”Seth Irby wrote a song that we sang that morning. Part of the chorus says:
You were not ashamed to call us Your brothersGiving us Your Father as our own.Your mercy is enough for us to sing Your praise,But You give so much more. You give so much more.
And from the bridge:
You did not leave us orphaned, Lord, cleansed of sin and nothing more.You called us “children of the King,” gave to us the family ring.And that same power that raised You up lives in us and fills us up,Teaching us to cry out “Abba Father!”
As the pastor spoke, I scribbled a quick drawing of a hand in my notebook—an open hand, palm up. On it, in very small print, I slowly wrote the three letters of my first name…a shy reminder of my Father’s love.
Writing
Hm…not much to report.
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Credits: All images by Ann Kroeker. All rights reserved.
I should send you the mp3 of Metaxas describing his book. Only one hour out of your life.
And the eyeshadow thing cracked me up because I’m just like you when it comes to makeup. Now my daughter–the one in theater–she’s a pro.
Oh, I miss Kroger! My dad worked at one throughout most of my childhood. They all closed up and left the state of Pennsylvania in the early 80s, I believe. Mary Kay consultants–that’s how I figured out where the makeup went. I guess idiot-proof would work, too.
I dig the Curiosity Journal. Like a work bench, where it’s all right to push aside Bonhoeffer, for a time, and eye some eyeshadow. And then wipe away some of the sawdust to find your name still carved into a hand.
There is an old hymn, “Is your name written there?” Haven’t heard it for a long time. My husband doesn’t want me to wear makeup, he says I am more kissable without getting it on him.
I feel something here, Ann. Maybe it’s your tired? The seasons life takes us through sometimes are better navigated when recorded on the page, aren’t they. Thinking of you, friend. Trying to say something clever :).
It sounds like February, this post does.
And there’s something so affirming to read that others give up on books, too, sometimes…set them aside.
The pancake-shaped egg is adorable. My egg rings are predictably round.
Thanks for sharing the story about your quest for eye-shadow. I’m a make-up idiot, too, so I could totally relate.