Friday 1 June 2012

Deep Thirst

At first glance, this post may seem somewhat of a hodge-podge of divergent thought.  In fact, it seems that way to me, as well, but I just have this sense that beneath the surface there is a cohesiveness that pulls it all together  . . . and so I post and trust that you will get the message.

Hydrangeas, which are associated with the qualities of friendship, devotion and understanding are also notoriously thirsty plants, particularly when potted.  They need deep waterings the first several years after being transplanted in order for their roots to grow deep and develop the capacity to survive dry seasons.

Reminds me of the seasons of life . . . how our first few years, even decades, we need lots of attention, pouring into, deep waterings.  As we grow older, it is considered a mark of maturity to be independent . . . not so needy, and thus we often allow the cry of our souls for water, for refreshment, to go unanswered. I am currently visiting weekly with an elderly lady at a senior's residence and see so many precious persons with untold stories and deep reservoirs of wisdom and experience.  So few of them have visitors and it breaks my heart that these dear ones depths are so rarely explored.  And so I share the following poem, used with the author's permission.

Thirst
by Peyton Leigh Stille

Hair flecked with silver streams
Grooves in the skin creating ripples of wisdom
Wisdom shown in the glossy eyes
Body of watery experience sitting in the rickety chair, 
the chair that squeaks with every rocky wave

If wisdom had a visible aura
it would be seeping out of his eyesockets
creating rivers of tears flowing down the cheekbones
 It would be pouring out of his ears
watering the hydrangeas that rest by his feet.

It would be running out of his nose
into the decades of wisdom gathering around his chin
It would be salivating out of the corners of his mouth
down his chin
drenching the front of his argyle sweater vest

But people walk by blinded by nearsightedness
they don't see the water that creates a tsunami
strong and tall
People walk by
content on their dry scratchy gravel, 
not wanting to dip their toes
into the murky pond before them

People walk by
closer towards the desert
where they get stuck
waiting for something to quench their thirst.

*  *  *

 A woman, a Samaritan, came to draw water.  
Jesus said. "Would you give me a drink of water?"  
The Samaritan woman, taken aback, asked, 
"How come you, a Jew, are asking me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?"  
(Jews in those days wouldn't be caught dead talking to Samaritans.)
Jesus answered, "If you knew the generosity of God and who I am,
 you would be asking me for a drink, and I would give you fresh, living water . . .

 Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again and again. 
 Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst, not ever.  
The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life."
John 4:7-14 (The Message)

"Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, Come, buy and eat.  Yes, come buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread and your wages for what does not satisfy?  Listen diligently to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance.
Isaiah 55:1,2

photosbyleanne

12 comments:

  1. Andrea, your photos and artwork are just getting better and better. I am awestruck by what you can do. Do you give lessons?

    My daughter, like you, has always been one to visit nursing homes. When she was growing up we lived in a retirement town, and on her way home from school, she would stop off at the nursing home and visit. When she was grown, she continued to do the same, wherever she lived. There are so many stories there that might never be told without someone to listen. In my Bible, near the scripture that says, "No one cares for my soul" (Psalms, I'm pretty sure) I have a notation that says, "Carla does." And now I can add, Andrea does, too.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Beautiful words, thoughts and poetry. You tied all the ideas around the central theme so eloquently. Your images and processing are magnificent. Thank you so much for sharing this with us at Flower Art Friday.

    ReplyDelete
  3. This just moved me to tears today, Andrea! When you left your comment today on my blog, I had to come and see. . . I'm so glad I did. This just topped off my day, filled my brim to overflowing. Amazing how this came to both of us in such different ways. I so love hydrangeas! And your photos were beyond beautiful --- magnificant! The Psalm that Linda used above me went through my heart today several times. There are several names I can write in my Bible, I'm sure. Thank you for this today. It really ministered to me.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Dear Andrea Dawn,

    I came here from Cora's for the same reason she did. You two were really of one mind and one heart today, but both sharing with us blessed ones who read you in your distinctly unique styles so that the common theme can be seen from so many different vantage points that subtle nuances that would be missed on one telling are magnified so they are not missed and each thought is so richly illuminated that the reader's depth of understanding is heightened to almost a feeling of deja vu. "Was I there or did I just read about this?"

    To take a person to a place through words and pictures is miraculous. This happened to me today through your combined works, Cora and Andrea Dawn.

    You are my Dear Friends,
    Dawn

    PS If you begin a photography class with Linda Moser Winebrenner, I want in, too!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'm sitting here in front of my computer, thinking about hydrangeas, water and aging. My thoughts are a swirl of blues, greens and the smell of care homes. Water is the one thing we need to survive physically. Emotionally, spiritually, water comes in the form of human contact, appreciation, being valued. It's so sad that so many people in care homes spend their days in loneliness, their wisdom disregarded, cast aside. I know you find that in going and blessing them, you yourself are blessed and watered.

    ReplyDelete
  6. My sunflowers are planted and the first rains have moistened the soil and the sun has warmed it. My biggest joy is taking buckets of these beautiful blooming sunshines into the senior homes through the summer and fall and placing them before the elderly in wheelchairs in travel intersections, in the dining area, and especially as bouquets for the lost and forgetten that they might know they have been remembered and there is One who loves them timelessly.
    I agree with 'all' the above comments. This is a magnificent post! All beauty here!
    put me on your clss list!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thank you all for your lovely feedback. Linda, Dawn, Susan . . . there are no plans for a photography class as I really do not know that much about the whole process of photo editing. I am simply using the basic tools that came with my new computer's photo gallery (Windows 7). I play with the sliders adjusting brightness, contrast, shadows, and highlights, then some more play with colour temperature, tone and saturation. Finally, I adjust the detail which is what gives it the lovely artsy texture. Oh I forgot, I use the crop tool a lot, as well, to improve the composition of the shot. That's it, that's all.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Wonderful photos in beautiful colors !
    Kind regards, Synnöve

    ReplyDelete
  9. Love those hydrangeas in every color!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thank you Andrea... for all that you give. :)

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for stopping by . . . appreciate your comments.