my burg

"I have on my farm a magnificent old pear tree. This tree has grown from a small seed. First, the seed died. It found welcoming soil and morphed into a tiny shoot. In time, with nurture, it came to full growth, a thing of beauty at many levels; all on a scale out of proportion to the original seed, and full of generative potential in its turn. The tree provides shade and shelter, flowers and fruit. It might provide wood for warmth or walls or works of art. It might contribute to a landscape or resist erosion. It might inspire poems or plays, paintings or photographs, (such as my painting, "Ki-Seki"). It might spark a scientific discovery, host children at play, or lead a man or woman to reflect on the nature of life."  -- Makoto Fujimura, Culture Care See Mako's beautiful limited edition print of "Ki-Seki" here .  Engraving above is "THE ORIGINAL SECKEL PEAR TREE", photographed and engraved for The Gardener's Monthly.  Copyrighted 1...

"And now, O Christ, let there be light So we can see the way aright Between two dismal forms of death, And with that light, O give us breath To live again, and bring us back From pleasures in a foreign shack, Or from the pride of weary arm, While working on the Father’s farm. From demon sloth and pleasures raw, Or demon toil and pride of law. The pathway home from either place Is opened by the word of grace. O Christ, pursue us till we see That all of God’s bequests are free. The ticket that we have to show Is this: that we are glad to go.” (John Piper, in The Prodigal's Sister)  The painting above is "Sacrificial Grace" by Makoto Fujimura.