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RustyBug wrote:
Steve brings out a good point ... one that I failed to consider @ juxtaposition.
In that regard, the striking or startling contrast of the dead rose(s) has served as a launching point to stimulate thought and discussion. In that same regard, it can readily carry / convey a message of "Lets think / talk about this." or "What does this mean to you."
In that sense, it isn't nearly as much of a swing & miss, as initially perceived ... depending on the message you are desiring to convey to your audience. Thought provocation doesn't always get the fanfare of beauty, but it can be much more powerful and have much greater lasting impression.
To borrow a bit from Jim ... it isn't a double lightning strike with rainbows & unicorns. Rather it is something to think about and carry with you in a more lasting impression.
TRUE STORY (bear with me / skip if you prefer):
So, we have my initial comments about the 23 Psalm and it's meaning (to me). I'm in the process of moving, and yesterday I rode my motorcycle from the old home to the new one. The interstate had road construction on it (backed up for 6 miles as we passed it), so I took a different route on the two lane (often better on the bike anyway ).
I got a later start than I wanted to and would be riding through golden hour / dusk / night on the two lane. Deer activity is increased in those areas @ those times, so I knew I'd have to be very much on guard.
I'm riding west into the sunset, enjoying the show, thinking how this is the first ride to my new home. Hmmm, I wonder what today's date is ... oh yeah, it's Friday the 13th. Oh great. Friday the 13th / bad luck day and I'm riding through deer central at rush hour for Bambi.
I then think about this thread in a contrast & compare of superstition vs. Scripture and which I'll choose to put my greater consideration of. Then I think about my comments regarding passing through the perils we face, yet proceeding on through in good confidence (not the same as foolishly letting your guard down) that fear shouldn't be upon us during such trevails. I'm thinking that the wooded stretch I'm in could have plenty of deer, so be sure to retain my vigil of alertness.
On cue (thinking "cue the deer" on Funny Farm), a large deer bolted up over the road immediately in front of me and I'm on the brakes. I won't say it's the closest I've ever come to hitting a deer on the bike (two that were closer), but it was close enough.
I just warmly grinned to myself, knowing what just happened. My wife was following behind me and when we stopped up ahead, she told me that she thought the deer was going to take me out. I shut the bike off and told her about this thread and our dialogue / thoughts on the subject. Then I told her the story I just shared with you regarding my sequence of thoughts / exact timing of events.
Then, it was off to do some interstate riding in the dark, complete with rain and construction, followed by some rain slick country roads @ night with several blind twisty's en route to a place on the other side of peril. Perils abound ... yet we proceed through with care, vigil & diligence rather than debilitated by or riddled with fear. We can be comforted by the understanding that the One who loves us, desires well for us, despite how perilous / dark / distressing our present situation might seem to be. Imo, this is the message of the 23rd Psalm.
I realize that different takes will be perceived by my story (message), just like we have different takes on the message of an image. But, I wanted to share this first to say "Thank you" to Walter for the image ... without which, my attention to the matter would not have been re-heightened. And subsequently, the events of the ride might have carried a different meaning for me.
My point here for this is that when we have a message to convey, it is our message and we just never know how it might be received (or when it might "take root" ) ... yet we still aspire to convey it, such as Walter has chosen to do. Walter's dead rose will never be mistaken for Jim's beauties ... yet, they can both convey something for others to consider. Sometimes, it can be hard to explain why we shoot what we shoot ... and others may not always understand (at first, ever or never), yet I think the message of "To thine own self be true." has merit for consideration in our work and our lives.
Imo, Walter was true to himself ...
...Show more →
Well said Kent, and thanks for sharing this story!!!
Steve
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