(my own image of painted skies from a few days ago)
This will be my first post using DREEM, my first post in #scholarandscribe and first discursive essay. Unfortunately I don't think my writing style and response is appropriate for this community and I'm not at all sure I'll be able to properly engage with it on the DREEM site...but I'll try.
In my defence when reading the community guidelines I found this article which states:
The rules around the tags above may be waived for approved contests or other important community content (such as this guide!)
...which means maybe I'm safe
But for anyone who ends up clicking on this read quick in case it gets muted for being wrong format. If no-one reads it, well, that's just the way it goes with some posts. But enough with the preamble...onto some content.
What are the "Fingerprints of God"
It may not be a popular viewpoint but I believe in a God who created the Universe and everything in it. I believe it was created with order and beauty. I also believe that if you are looking you can see traces of the design in the world around us.
Many people hold a very different view and believe the earth and its beauty were formed through Chaos and random events.
Regardless of your belief I hope we can agree that there are certain moments which can be inspirational, magical, inspiring, beautiful or wonderous. At the very least there are moments that are 'pivotal' for an individual.
If you believe in a world without wonder and a little magic, I'm glad I'm not you
As for myself I have found beauty and wonder in many things during my life:
- The colourful palette in a painted sunset or sunrise
- The vastness of a cloudless sky filled with stars at night
- The melancholy song of a loon in the morning mists
- The trembling of leaves at the sightless touch of the breeze travelling through
- A moonbeam adding light and shadow to a sleeping newborn
- A lazy cat lounging in a sunbeam
- A rainbow painting colour to the sky after the rain makes the landscape a little extra green
- Seeing your breath on a cold crisp morning or just watching a snowflake slowly drift onto a field of white.
(personal image of ocean and mountains)
Of course you can use science to describe exactly what is happening in each of those moments. However, can Science accurately describe the beauty? I prefer to think NO and I'm happy to say those are little gifts and "The Fingerprints of God".
But is there power in those fingerprints?
I certainly believe that there is and it is important to look out for those special moments.
Imagination
(Personal image: What do dogs dream about?)
Where do stories begin? Where does magic come from? How do we dream of something more?
There is nothing like a special moment to spark the imagination. What made those special shadows? What the baby dreaming about when the moonbeam struck. What power is behind the waves crashing on the shore. Or of course is there intelligent life hanging out around one of those distant stars in the sky?
Looking out for those special moments if a wonderful way to spark imagination. To think of more than just what is. Bringing a little thought into what more could be. Or maybe just spark a story about why the Loon's song carries such sorry. Or why the Wolf howls at the moon.
BUT
Imagination is just the spark that gets the creativity going. Imagination without hard work gets nothing done. It just makes an unproductive dreamer. Putting pen to paper to write about the story of the loon or the wolf gets something created. Working on harnessing the wind gets a windmill built.
Magical moments spark the imagination but Hard work is needed to harness it
Inspiration
If ever imagination was to have a sibling it would be inspiration. Divine moments are just as likely to give inspiration as imagination. Imagination is dreaming about more than what is. Inspiration is the creative spark to make something beautiful.
What moves a painter to create? Something beautiful.
What inspires a musician to create? Something beautiful
What inspires a writer? Something worthy of a story.
(Personal image of full moon in the morning sky)
I'll bet that Star Trek and Star Wars would never have been written if someone didn't look up at the night sky.
BUT
Inspiration by itself is useless. Having seen the most beautiful sunset may inspire someone but without the technical skill, paint, brushes and canvas it will never be shared by the painter. A wolf's mournful howling at the moon may inspire the most wonderful story but without pen, paper and skill to craft the story
Perspective
(Personal image: My wife beside an giant tree)
Ever stood beside an ancient Sitka Spruce or other gigantic tree? Certainly makes someone feel small. Ever look up at the starry sky on a cloudless night? Will probably make you feel even smaller.
It's the magical moments in life that can give perspective to everything. Nothing like seeing a newborn baby to make your own needs seem somewhat less. Nothing like seeing an ancient tree or timeless structure to make your existence seem fleeting. Helping people keep a sense of perspective in a person's place in the Universe is both humbling and inspiring. Humble in that we are so small compared to the vastness of space. Inspiring because we can accomplish so much despite our ephemeral nature.
BUT
Perspective is the ability to expand our focus on the big picture of things. It is our ability to focus on the small things that gets things done right. Grandiose scheme may seem great however, it is all the little details that get the large project done. Keeping an eye on all the little day to day things gives us focus and the ability to work efficiently.
Purpose
(personal image from Lindeman park)
Have you considered one of the major tragedies in life? It is when people don't know who they are or what they want to accomplish. Without purpose people just aimless walk through life. It's those magical moments in life that can spur someone on to their greater purpose in life. The beauty in a sleeping baby may spur someone to become the best father they can be. The beauty of a tranquil brook wandering through the forest may spur someone to become an environmentalist and protect those beautiful places for future generations. Of maybe a beautiful moment shared with a loved one may spur the couple to take a lifelong partnership and devote themselves to each other.
BUT
Someone's purpose is also based on who they are, how they were raised, and their innate abilities. Someone who is analytical and practical by nature will not be swayed to be an artist by even the most beautiful scene. Someone who is carefree and free spirited is unlikely to be moved to being tied down by the beauty of a sleeping baby. Someone who loves people and social gatherings is unlikely to be moved by the majestic beauty from a lonely mountaintop.
The magic of a moment is to spark a passion that was hidden but not create one.
Change
(personal image: sunbeam through the clouds. Skies painted with white and blue)
The best part of Gods Fingerprints are that his touch can lead to change. It can change views. It can change mindset. It can change hearts. It can change how people approach the world and relationships. People tend to get into ruts. They follow the same pattern everyday because they follow what they know. They put their heads down to get the job done. They focus on their daily duties and their daily responsibilities. It is when they look up and change their viewpoint. Looking up at those Painted Skies is the spark that is needed to ignite a new direction for them. Looking up from the everyday to what can be instead of what is. Even a simple thing like a falling apple helped Sir Isaac Newton to think about gravity and change the world of Physics.
BUT
Lives and people are like a giant ship. A large change in the rudder makes a small change in the ship. Likewise people's lives tend to be hard to change also. A beautiful view from someone's cubicle window may inspire someone to change to a job where they can be outdoors. It may help them imagine a life where they are free to wander, roam, and smell the fresh air. The realities of life may snuff out that dream as quickly as it starts. Rent that needs to be on time. Bills need to be paid. Work needs to be done. Responsibilities need to be met.
Where do I end?
I like to think of magical moments as a small gift from God. They add beauty to an otherwise mundane life. They add wonder to a world where everything seems figured out. They add colour to a world that seems rather gray. They are a spark that can fuel a wonderful revival in a cold dying heart.
BUT
Not every spark starts a fire. If you have ever tried to start a campfire you would know that it takes a lot of preparation to get that fire started! Just simply lighting a match and putting it on a piece of wood will accomplish only one thing....wasting a match.
Louis Pasteur wrote the quote: Chance favors the prepared mind
In the same way I believe that the Touch of God favors the prepared heart.
That's it
To whoever happens upon this article I hope you enjoyed my take on the post prompt "Painted Skies".
If you care to drop a line in response that would be awesome. I love feedback.
A little kindness would be appreciated though. This is my first attempt at a discursive essay. In fact I'd never even heard the term before this post prompt.
Final thought after I proofread my article. The words of my highschool English teacher Mr. Brown are floating through my mind.
Technically perfect. But really boring
He wrote that on an essay I wrote for my final year of High School. Perhaps it was his way of saying I learned the rules but needed to engage the audience better. As for myself I believe I am analytical not artistic. I can write an analysis of a topic but don't have the artistic chops to make it beautiful.
Either way, I hope you enjoyed my attempt.
Thank you.
End
(page end provided through free clipart)