neurotics and writers

"When disaster causes the familiar ground to shudder beneath the feet of a child, a neurotic is sometimes born, or a writer, and often both." — Time Magazine

You may now be wondering about this picture and just what it has to do with the quote. I thought it might illustrate the ground shuddering. It's an illustration from the 14th century of Tacuminum Sanitatis (a medieval handbook on wellness) illustrating wind (no, I don't think that type of wind--note: trees being blown violently about, not that that proves a single thing). Although now I look at the title of the book again, I'm wondering whether I have indeed posted a blog with an illustration of flatulence...

Moving swiftly on.

Anyway. The reason I like this quote is because it reminds me that even when everything seems to have gone wrong, behind the scenes, underneath everything that is happening, that "deeper magic" (C S Lewis) is working. Transforming a place of pain into one where hope can grow. And writers can be born.

(BTW: I just checked and the wind here has to do with the heart. So that's all right then.)

the right kind of pride

“Pride is faith in the idea that God had when he made us. A proud man is conscious of the idea, and aspires to realize it. He does not strive towards happiness, or comfort, which may be irrelevant to God’s idea of him. His success is the idea of God, successfully carried through, and he is in love with his destiny.” Isak Dinesen (pen name of Karen Blixen, 1885-1962)

What was God’s idea when he made you? And are you in love with your destiny? (Looking at her photo, I rather think Karen Blixen was with hers, don't you?)

Wisdom

"Wisdom begins in wonder"—Socrates.
And this fish makes my heart hurt.

He is risen!

Peter and John Running to the Tomb— Eugène Burnand (1850 – 1921), Musée d'Orsay, Paris