One Focal Point
I've spent a lot of time over the last few days thinking about our house. Our project manager started asking me to pick out things like floors, tubs, and facets to get a detailed budget. I got completely overwhelemed.
There's something about starting with a totally blank slate that has sent me into a tail spin. I've been researching and clipping pictures for about two years and still don't have a vision.
I spent two hours Monday going over my ideas with a friend who has a real eye for design. One of the most important design elements is the living room since it will be the first thing people see when they come in the front door. There is a foyer that leads right into the room with the fireplace at its focal point.
On our recent trip to Ireland I fell in love with their stone walls. I loved their rustic feel. When I looked through pictures of fireplaces I have saved, everyone of them was stone. I also want to hang a big work of art by a friend over the mantle. He has two I'm in love with. One is of the Crucified Christ and one is the baby Jesus' hand reaching out of the hay. I haven't decided on which one yet, but I know one of the two will have that place of prominence in my home.
"I guess I like the stone," I said to my friend.
"Then that needs to be the first thing you pick out. Let everything else flow from that."
The more I thought about what she said, the more I began to see the whole picture. I began to see how each room could take a portion of the one next to it so that the whole house would have a definite look, so to speak.
When I was praying last night, God spoke to me about this. Our lives are often like decorating this house. We get so overwhelmed by all that needs to be done and so caught up in all the little details that we can't function. What is vital is to have one focal point.
When that focal point becomes the center of your attention, the rest of the "stuff" seems to fade away. After that happens you begin to see how that focal point can bleed into other parts of your life. Before you know it, your life has a plan, a theme, a purpose.
This Lent I will make that my aim. I want to have one focal point and I want it to be Jesus.
posted by Amy Parris @ 11:20 AM
5 Comments:
Thanks for a perfect reminder; it was Jesus speaking through you! (I have been "anxious and upset about many things" these past two days.)
Sister: Thanks for the encouragement. After ten summers volunteering with the Missionaries of Charity, I feel as if all religious are my family. I'll let you know how I do through Lent. Any pointers are always welcome.
Theo: Between my time with the MC's and a brother who is a seminarian, I have quite a collection of religious art. My husband gives me a hard time but I love having the constant reminder, not to mention the teachable moments it provides for the kids. I'll keep visiting your blog because I'm dying to figure you out.
Aaron is studying to be a diocesan priest for the Diocese of Savannah. He is in his 3rd year at the North American College in Rome. He'll be ordained a deacon on October 5th at St. Peter's. Awesome! Inspiring! Encouraging! He will take any amount of prayer he can get.
Thanks!
Theo,
How did you know that? I actually visited Aaron at the Mount and we took him and David to dinner since he is from our diocese.
Aaron told me Monday that they announced who would be ordaining their class and it is the Bishop of the Military Diocese who is a former rector at the NAC.
I'll ask my brother about the prayer book. I've never even heard of it let alone seen it. What's it called so I can keep an eye out for it?
Thanks again Theo. I'm looking forward to keeping in touch with you. By the way, our former pastor, Father Brett Brannen is now the Assistant Rector at the Mount. If you ever get the chance to meet him or attend something he's teaching at, go for it. He is such a holy man of God.
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