I find the above picture to be hilarious, beautiful and true. I'm sure to you its chaos. Let me explain.
The chair was hand made by my grandfather who has since passed (God rest his soul). The paint, as far as I know, is the original. The seat of the chair was "caned" by my mother, a graduation gift of sorts. I have very few things of monetary value, but this chair is of extreme value to me. I use it for everything in our bedroom, laying out my clothes for the next day, storing bedtime stories, changing my shoes or leaving unfolded laundry on it.
Above the chair is a small framed print that I colored in college of St. Benedict. Originally St. Benny there overlooked Roland's crib but I moved it to my room as I felt I needed his prayers more. Every time I look at that image I am reminded of The Rule that he created. I studied it in college and while I don't follow it, I am reminded of how I am supposed to live daily as a catholic.
And of course, as I was trying to snap that perfect artsy photo Roland came toddling into the room to show me his stacker toy. I kept snapping photos. This one cracked me up. Trying to focus on the eternal while remaining present.
The rest of the scene makes me chuckle but also makes me think of the interior of my spiritual life. I am always cluttered, there are piles of ideas and thoughts in my mind waiting to be attended to. I don't have a perfect spiritual interior and I've come to the conclusion that it can't happen easily but somehow I'm ok with this scene because it is one of daily perseverance. It may not be perfect but the books are picked up each day, objects are used to aid me in my work, as the saint overlook me, pray for me and remind me of the eternal, earned through the daily.
