Kerns Korollary #15:
Just THINK about taking macro photos and a breeze begins to stir.
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Friday, June 17, 2005
Hurrying
Why is it that the less time you have in which to do something, the longer it takes to do it?
Must be another version of Murphy's law!
Must be another version of Murphy's law!
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Creative Quilting
I've journaled off and on for a long time. Lately, I've done it more informally by philosophizing when questions come up in discussion in the creativity and design classes I teach online at QuiltUniversity.com.
If you want to follow along, you can expect observation, commentary and wild ideas on a variety of subjects. I know something about a lot of things, a lot about a few things, and I’m curious about a whole lot more. I guess that makes me kind of a Jack- (oops, make that Jill-) of-all -trades. It would be nice, though, if you would just call me a Renaissance Woman. (Either is better than my irreverent kids’ assessment: You’re weird, Mom. Weird!)
Whatever you call me, I do have more fun!
If you want to follow along, you can expect observation, commentary and wild ideas on a variety of subjects. I know something about a lot of things, a lot about a few things, and I’m curious about a whole lot more. I guess that makes me kind of a Jack- (oops, make that Jill-) of-all -trades. It would be nice, though, if you would just call me a Renaissance Woman. (Either is better than my irreverent kids’ assessment: You’re weird, Mom. Weird!)
Whatever you call me, I do have more fun!
Fractals: The butterfly effect
In Chaos theory (and please understand that I'm far from being an expert) the idea is advanced that a butterfly flapping its wings in California can affect the weather in New Jersey. Infinitesmally, perhaps but the effect is there.
I don't fully understand the butterfly effect, but I've seen it in action... In fact, I talked about it Sunday morning in a worship service (without labeling it that.) I was a member of the first Journal Quilt project. It wasn't what I had planned to do, but my quilts chronicled the last nine months of my husband's life as he struggled with the very nasty effects of Parkinson's disease. I think his ministry during those last months when he was totally helpless was as effective as anything he had done during 39 years of active ministry and 15 years of retirement. Without my realizing it at the time those little quilts were also a record of my own growth and healing during those difficult months.
One of my little quilts was selected to be included in the Quilting Arts magazine's article about the Journal Quilt project. As a result of the article I was asked to prepare a class on making journal quilts for Quilt University (which I had helped start two years earlier.) The first class opened with more than 80 students from round the world.
Students received the first lesson on Saturday morning. By Sunday morning I was already reading stories about how this process of journalling was helping students deal with pain, depression, grief and anger. I'm not a psychologist and this was pretty overwhelming. I happened to be preaching that morning (filling in for an absent pastor) so when it was time for prayer concerns, I simply explained what I was doing and asked for the congregation's prayers and support for the next seven weeks. I've taught that class online several times since then and the result is always the same--stories of healing and reconciliation.
I spoke Sunday morning at the church where we had retired nearly 20 years ago and left when my husband's health had deteriorated to the point where he needed more care. I reminded them that they had also been an important part of our life as we had shared some very difficult times together. I told them too, that in this very unusual way, through these classes, his ministry, which had always been one of healing and reconciliation, was still continuing and going around the world. They too, each in their own way, were part of this continuing story.
The butterfly effect--small things, often unnoticed and/or forgotten, carry an influence that is long lasting and far reaching.
I don't fully understand the butterfly effect, but I've seen it in action... In fact, I talked about it Sunday morning in a worship service (without labeling it that.) I was a member of the first Journal Quilt project. It wasn't what I had planned to do, but my quilts chronicled the last nine months of my husband's life as he struggled with the very nasty effects of Parkinson's disease. I think his ministry during those last months when he was totally helpless was as effective as anything he had done during 39 years of active ministry and 15 years of retirement. Without my realizing it at the time those little quilts were also a record of my own growth and healing during those difficult months.
One of my little quilts was selected to be included in the Quilting Arts magazine's article about the Journal Quilt project. As a result of the article I was asked to prepare a class on making journal quilts for Quilt University (which I had helped start two years earlier.) The first class opened with more than 80 students from round the world.
Students received the first lesson on Saturday morning. By Sunday morning I was already reading stories about how this process of journalling was helping students deal with pain, depression, grief and anger. I'm not a psychologist and this was pretty overwhelming. I happened to be preaching that morning (filling in for an absent pastor) so when it was time for prayer concerns, I simply explained what I was doing and asked for the congregation's prayers and support for the next seven weeks. I've taught that class online several times since then and the result is always the same--stories of healing and reconciliation.
I spoke Sunday morning at the church where we had retired nearly 20 years ago and left when my husband's health had deteriorated to the point where he needed more care. I reminded them that they had also been an important part of our life as we had shared some very difficult times together. I told them too, that in this very unusual way, through these classes, his ministry, which had always been one of healing and reconciliation, was still continuing and going around the world. They too, each in their own way, were part of this continuing story.
The butterfly effect--small things, often unnoticed and/or forgotten, carry an influence that is long lasting and far reaching.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)