Just a thought by coppi

Just a thought by coppi

Written 2022

“Gallery statistics report that the average time a person spends looking at a particular work of art is three seconds. To those who spend their lives caring for the great art museums of the world, I imagine this is a disheartening sight to behold day after day. It would have been interesting to hear the thoughts of the St. Petersburg curators who watched as Henri Nouwen sat before Rembrandt’s Return of the Prodigal Son for more than four hours.

I suppose most of us are more often like the three-second viewer than the captivated Nouwen, moving through our days with our eyes barely open. How often are we surrounded by creative mastery but unaware and unseeing—missing, in our absence, what is right in front of us? One of my favorite poems begins with the lines, “Lord, not you, it is I who am absent”. (Slice of Infinity by Jill Carattini 9/27/18)

Years ago when I was going through a difficult time in my life, I remember coming home from the many things I thought I had to do, falling on my knees as I was climbing the steps to where I lived.  I was tired, worn out, and lifeless.  I utter these words in prayer.  “Where are you God”.  I heard deep within me “stop and smell the roses”.  You see I never knew how to relax, be still, listen, and quit running”.  I was trying to concur everything, be everything, know everything, etc.  A human doing, not being.  I guess my mother was correct in her analysis of me.  “Coppi you can run anywhere in the world, but remember you have to take yourself with you”.  But, through the difficulties of my life, I had to stop and smell the roses.  I learned the meaning of silence and being present.  I still battle with ‘I must do” , but l never want to lose the fragrance of the roses.  🌹🌹🌹