A Far Greater Designer.

A "carved pearl". Ordinary, but extraordinary! No beach-comber has ever found anything like this obviously designed and executed button. It is the product of a talented artist! Just the right shell was chosen and this piece was formed -- attractive to the eye, but with a utilitarian purpose.  Do you wonder (as I do) how many attempts were made before this item was completed without any chips or gouges? Personally, I admire the precision and the creativity of the artisan who designed this. While it doesn't have a great deal of monetary value, it still deserves admiration -- and a second glance if nothing more. I wish you could hold this in your hand, tilt it in the light, and enjoy the riot of color that appears before your eyes!

The shell buttons are among my favorites because they are natural materials. I also like them because I can imagine such items before they were touched by a human hand --  products of a far greater designer, after all.

Land That I Love

Today is FLAG DAY, so here we fly the stars and stripes in honor of our country and the foundations once laid down for us. I see this as a day for remembering.

Here, from the Mayflower Compact, are words that stir my heart and soul:

"In the name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord, King James, by the Grace of God, of England, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, e&. Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honour of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia; do by these presents, solemnly and mutually in the Presence of God and one of another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil Body Politick, for our better Ordering and Preservation, and Furtherance of the Ends aforesaid; And by Virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions and Offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the General good of the Colony; unto which we promise all due submission and obedience." 

Where One Might Wish To Stay

Among my favorites are the beautiful picture buttons from years gone by. These beauties always pique my imagination and cause me to wonder about the significance to the artist of a creation such as this one.

This is a serene scene: a simple cottage nestled among the trees on the edge of a rippling brook. Here, a footbridge spans the water and links one bank to the other.

It is a welcoming picture. It is charming and delightful. Can you not imagine a couple strolling along the banks, across the bridge, and into a meadow where the wildflowers erupt with color and the air is filled with the sweet melody of the birds?

Yes, on the one hand this is only a button, but it is also so much more. In a pleasant way, it evokes visions of a sheltered place away from the frantic pace of the city, where one can breathe deeply of the fresh air and smell the sweet grass or freshly mown hay. It is a place of peace, and a place to contemplate the glories that God has provided for us to enjoy.

This is a place where one might wish to stay for a lifetime, or -- if only a visitor -- return often.