Blessings Reader, Seeing is Hard I remember it clearly. The theater was dark in the fine arts building. The light from the slides reflected off the screen at the front of the room. Our faces illuminated by our laptop screens. Most of us frantically taking notes, or messages each other jokes about the art we were being shown. In the midst of all this, I learn a lesson I’ll never forget, and will never master. Seeing is hard. We only notice what we've learned to see. Observing is incredibly difficult. At the time, my professor had a slide he had taken of a Renaissance painting in front of us. He had asked us what we noticed. We were quick to notice the emotions of their faces, the flowing of their clothes, or the environment they were in. None of us noticed the shape the three main figures had created (a triangle). None of us noticed the use of one primary colors per main figure's clothing. None of us noticed the greens were crisp and vibrant. We didn’t know enough to see the innovations being done in this painting, and in its time. Our lack of training and experience made us blind to what was before our eyes. It’s hard to see. To see changes that come to us slowly is hard. To see back across generations is hard. To see into the future is hard. To see ourselves in humility and honesty is hard. To see and still love may be the hardest of all. The one who has eyes to see, let them see. Until Next Week Posted since the last Edition Unpublished Photo for this Edition
Curated Goods just for YouSharing what I've come across from around the internet that may encourage or help you.
A Prayer for the Week to ComeLord, your ways, wisdom, and sight are far beyond our own. With your gentleness, loving kindness, and compassion help us. Help us to see ourselves, your word, your Church, and your creation with greater clarity. As we see more, give us hearts that won’t falter, but abound in love as you do. |
Each newsletter includes a short reflection for the week to come, articles published the previous week, a short curated list of content that was meaningful to me the previous week, and more. Subscribe today!
Deepening our Christianity the Monday Newsletter of Paul Prins Edition #33 · 17 June 2024 Blessings Reader, Faith is a Gift Our faith simply exists. It just, is. As a Christian, there are many things for me to do. I am to take up my cross and follow Jesus. I am to love, and to be gracious. Yet, the gift of faith has no expectations for me. Faith, for many of us, is the first invitation we accept from Jesus. We accept the gift that is given to us. This gift that is beyond description. We are...
Deepening our Christianity the Monday Newsletter of Paul Prins Edition #32 · 10 June 2024 Blessings Reader, Jordan and I are heading to the States for a couple weeks. If you are around it would be fun to see you. I'm preaching next Sunday in the Twin Cities at Meetinghouse Church, and there are two other events below you are invited too. Let me know if you're around! Acceptance and Silence Last Sunday we had our monthly online gathering of Urban Monastics. The format is pretty simple. We pray...
Deepening our Christianity the Monday Tuesday Newsletter of Paul Prins Edition #31 · 4 June 2024 Blessings Reader, It has been nearly 3 months since the last newsletter. In that time, I have finished refining the Urban Monastic way of life, and we have been working hard on planning and promoting our very first Urban Monastic retreat. This has been a lot of writing, and I didn't feel I had the capacity to write this each week. Now with the 28 chapters of the rule off to be edited, I'm back!...