“Hope is like a road in the desert; there was never a road, but when many people walk on it, the road comes into existence.”
–Lin Yutang
HAIKU
Dry rocky snake trail
dotted by rare desert blooms
Mariposa Lilies
Mariposa Lillies and Indian Pain Brush Painting by Georgia O’Keeffe
A Short Story – The Three White Cottages
At Saintes Maries de la Mer in Provence
Painting by Vicent van Gogh
Beyond the jetsetter glitter of the French Riviera lies a coastal resort of Saintes Marie de la Mer with its legend of the “three Maries.” As I remember summer vacations there, the locale is flanked between a dry plain and wet marches shoring the Mediterranean Sea. Here you can still enjoy Provencal festivals, running bull events and equestrian games.
I’m convinced that Vincent van Gogh was fascinated by this town and its legend as shown in his “three white cottages” painting. According to local history, this is a pilgrimage site still honoring the 3 Maries: sister of Jesus’ Mother, Mary mother of Apostle James and John, and Mary of Magdala, all of whom were present at the foot of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem. So, the story tells that in around 40 AD these women were expelled, put in a boat without sails or provisions and landed miraculously at Saintes Maries de la Mer.
While standing at a replica of the boat at the pier, I wondered if Vincent had painted these 3 white cottages to remember these courageous women. Delving into his art, I can feel the blistering windy Mistral that dries up the long grassy blades. The whitewash walls of the cottages keeping the inside cool while the dark blue sky warrants a coming of torrent rain.
This mystical shrine still captivates my imagination whether the legend is true or not. The locals adhere to its historical mysticism and Vincent’s impressionistic art remains. Just maybe, the three Maries do rest at Saintes Maries de la Mer!
Painting by Vincent van Gogh
Passion for Christ’s presence in our life shows up when we dare ask “who are my mother and brothers?”
The answer is simply stated in the Gospel of Luke 8:19-21.
“Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and they wish to see you.”
Then Jesus replies,
“My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”
Thank Goodness, only Jesus can give us the position of being his brother or sister if only we desire Him.
Painting by Yoram Raanan
Today marks a celebration for my family. In a familiar French manner, we will pop open a bottle of champagne, and give thanks to my parents for continuing to pour their love on me from heaven.
HAIKU
Enticing label
Beauty wrapped in bubbles
Alphonse Mucha art
Moet et Chandon Art by Mucha
“Life is like playing a violin solo in public and learning the instrument as one goes on.”
–Samuel Butler
Poetry
Life is like a violin.
You can focus on the broken strings that dangle,
or you can play life’s melody on the one that remains,
–Your attitude.
–Charles R. Swindoll
We can’t turn the clock back.
We can’t change people.
But we can manage what happens to us by the attitude we take on life.
Every day presents us a choice to live by…so let’s be well with the choices we make.
A Bing Image
“Imagination makes you see all sorts of things.”
–Georgia O’Keeffe
Georgia once explained “nothing is less real than realism. Details are confusing. It is only by selection, by elimination, by emphasis, that we get at the real meaning of things.”
A good explanation for her “Mountains, Skulls and Flowers painting shown above.
HAIKU
Express one’s truth
A sign of beauty and faith
Be it everyone’s aim
No doubt about it, Georgia rose to be the “Mother of American Modernism” because she painted with independent conviction and achieving success.
“To create one’s world in any of the arts takes courage.”
She had an indomitable courage!
No wonder she is one of my favorite artists.
A Bing Image
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