Thursday, June 15, 2006

Blue and a poem by Langston Hughes






i'm not religious, but i appreciate certain things about churches. i like the (generally) quiet, respectful attitude people get when they enter. i like the energy. maybe i feel this energy because churches are foreign to me (not having grown up going to church). they make me unsure and a bit excited. but it also seems like the energy may be from all the people who've entered there and reflected on their lives there, examined their thoughts and hearts there, considered their deepest fears and hopes and surrendered them to the place or to their idea of god. the humility.

and there are the churches that are filled with joy and singing and call and response from preacher and congregation. a joyful and very interactive energy.

the energy from weddings, funerals and other milestone ceremonies.

i also appreciate all the beautiful artwork in churches. the skies especially.

the top photo is from a tiny, tiny white church in Old Town, San Diego. it's just a small rectangle building with some little paintings high on the walls. i like the turquoise blue in this painting and the flowers on the simple brown frame.

the second photo is from my parents' house. they have a big sandstone (occurs naturally) in the yard and this was the view of it on my recent visit, early one morning.

The Dream Keeper by Langston Hughes

Bring me all of your dreams,
You dreamers,
Bring me all of your
Heart melodies
That I may wrap them
In a blue cloud-cloth
Away from the too-rough fingers
Of the world.

7 comments:

sarah said...

thanks for these beautiful images and amazing words...

Megan said...

Lovely.

two trees said...

what a lovely post

Anonymous said...

very calming soothing images, beautiful. I feel similarly when I walk into a church, its usually so much to take in, but your words describe it well.

Anonymous said...

very calming soothing images, beautiful. I feel similarly when I walk into a church, its usually so much to take in, but your words describe it well.

lisrobbe said...

you picked one of my favorite poems.

Unknown said...

I've never read Langston Hughes before. Now I think I will. Love the pics!