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jaunthieI planted a climbing rose next to the path that leads to my front door, so that no matter how busy I get (and like most people, I get really busy and self-absorbed and wound up in my own world), I'd be forced to stop and smell the roses every once and a while during the blooming season, if only through sheer proximity. And it's worked pretty well, by and large; I do stop and smell the roses when they're in bloom, and that frequently leads to my wandering about my garden for a few minutes, taking time to appreciate the beauty that was there all along.
Why do I mention this? After all, it's not rose-blooming season. (Not yet.)
Because this article in the Washington Post is about moments like that, and more: about recognizing and appreciating beauty when it's right in front of you, taking the step back from the crazy hurly-burly and the self-centered world to accept the gifts of the day.
Of course most gifts aren't quite of the artistic caliber that was on display that day in the L'Enfant Plaza Metro station - or maybe they are. It won't matter if we won't pay attention. And I'll freely admit that if I had been there...I'd've been just as likely to have been part of the majority that missed it. I know that rush-to-work, block-everything-else-out, stay-in-my-own-world feeling, live it all too often, roses by the walkway notwithstanding. It's endemic to our world. We tune everything else out, too caught up in our own world to notice what's happening around us.
Except the kids, of course. Every single child recognized that something special was happening, paid attention to the beauty and talent on display. And almost every adult failed to hear it.
Wow.
Do yourself a favor. Take the time to read the article.
Why do I mention this? After all, it's not rose-blooming season. (Not yet.)
Because this article in the Washington Post is about moments like that, and more: about recognizing and appreciating beauty when it's right in front of you, taking the step back from the crazy hurly-burly and the self-centered world to accept the gifts of the day.
Of course most gifts aren't quite of the artistic caliber that was on display that day in the L'Enfant Plaza Metro station - or maybe they are. It won't matter if we won't pay attention. And I'll freely admit that if I had been there...I'd've been just as likely to have been part of the majority that missed it. I know that rush-to-work, block-everything-else-out, stay-in-my-own-world feeling, live it all too often, roses by the walkway notwithstanding. It's endemic to our world. We tune everything else out, too caught up in our own world to notice what's happening around us.
Except the kids, of course. Every single child recognized that something special was happening, paid attention to the beauty and talent on display. And almost every adult failed to hear it.
Wow.
Do yourself a favor. Take the time to read the article.
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Date: 2007-04-09 11:35 pm (UTC)I love this quote: 'Bell calls it "not just one of the greatest pieces of music ever written, but one of the greatest achievements of any man in history. It's a spiritually powerful piece, emotionally powerful, structurally perfect. Plus, it was written for a solo violin, so I won't be cheating with some half-assed version."' I like this guy; he's a down-to-earth virtuoso. The world needs more like him, methinks.