Not long when I was reading "The Van Gogh Blues" a question came up about a certain philosophical belief. I did as I often do, and wrote to a friend who knows more than I do about this stuff and questioned him. He explained it briefly and suggested I might want to pick up a beginning Philosophy textbook sometime if I thought I'd be interested in pursuing the subject. A few days later I was at the Goodwill store looking for old books that I could use in some of my "thangs I do" when I saw this little stack of textbooks. I could not decide which one I wanted so I splurged and bought them all at .89 each! The one in the middle has my bookmark where I started reading it. When I get done scannning through them for information (or when I get bored with Philosophy talk) I will use some of the pages for artsy-fartsy purposes.Also, the wire basket the books are in is a sentimental reminder of my days working at the family owned sporting goods store where I worked for sixteen years, all combined. These were gym baskets we sold. When they fell out of regular use we used them to hold extra stock on our shelves. I remembered them from my days before elementary school when we would go to the pool and use them to store our shoes and towels while we swam.
Anyway, I always wanted a few of them, and I intended to ask my boss about them someday, but I never did. He probably would have given me all of them that I wanted, but I just never got around to asking. They had donated a bunch of leftover items to the Goodwill store and the baskets were in the lot of items. They only had two of them and I bought them both for something like .29 each.
I came home from the Goodwill store a happy camper that day.
I set up my photograph not knowing for sure what I was going to put on it. I really like that Thic Naht Hanh quote and in looking at the photo with that quote on it and thinking about different beliefs and philosophies, the words of Christ came to me and I added them to the photo as well.
It's been a while since I done of these "thangs". There are all sorts of reason why I have not done any in a while. Some of them I don't understand myself. But I hope that I am once again opening to the possibilities of more inspiration coming my way.
Love the goodwill! and the photo is so simple with the books in the basket, it's simplicity at it's finest!
ReplyDeleteVery, very cool. And isn't it a weird feeling to pick up a textbook and just read it because you want to know? Love that!
ReplyDeleteI love those baskets. Strange how you don't remember something until it's pointed out. I remember leaving clothes and shoes in gym in those baskets too and praying they'd still be there when you were done with class.
ReplyDeleteI took two philosophy classes in college. Interesting as heck, but it came time for tests and you could tell I just didn't "get it" Made B's in both of them.And was glad to get that.
I would love one of those baskets!! I love Goodwill, you find the best stuff. Philosophy is bad for the brain cells..:) Glad your back to photo tinkering, I was missing them a lot.
ReplyDeleteinsane mama Thanks!
ReplyDeleteRach I think it is just plain weird to be reading a textbook for pleasure!
Jenny I know what you mean about hoping your stuff was still there after gym class! And a B is nothing to turn your nose up at, especially in a class like philosophy!
Thanks Ayekah! I don't think I have endangered any of my brain cells while reading philosophy books, but one can never be too sure!
I just totally love that.
ReplyDeleteThanks Princess!
ReplyDeleteLong ago (or so it seems) I read the Tao of Pooh and Te of Piglet. I was hooked and then delighted to find a Pooh on Business and then Pooh and the Great Philosophers. I, like the Bear, have a very simple mind. I was reminded, with a smile, to turn to my shelf and refresh.
ReplyDeleteThen, your picture reminds me of a woman I met in Goshen, IN who's ministry (or part of it) is to creatively adorn (not to be confused with decorate) the altar table with pieces (aka stuff) that will draw the pewsitter into worship and thought. She would get with the pastoral staff and meditate on the message/passage/theme and create. The pewsitters were then invited to: find their self in the representation. I always thought that would be a cool ministry to have...your basket reminded me of that...lot from a basket with books, huh?
Stopped to comment on them "thangs you do", Annie, and found myself in smiles reading daisydreamer's romance with Pooh. I own a copy of "The Gospel According to Peanuts" and, while I was never an avid fan of Charles Schultz, I did enjoy the cartoons when encountered. Not till I bought the book did I discover he had once entertained the idea of entering the ministry, but decided he could reach people better through Charlies Brown. The book is filled with scees where he puts the Scripture into "people" perspective. I just never put two and two together all those years...
ReplyDeleteI am, by the way, expecting some future revelation from you out of that philosophy exploration...
Daisydreamer It sure is a lot to draw from a basket of books but it makes me happy to hear what you have experienced in seeing the picture! I've always like the Pooh quote that begins with something like "you are braver than you think you".
ReplyDeleteInteresting concept about the woman who adorns the alter table with appropriate visual aids to draw the pewsitter into worship.
Thanks for stopping by and I hope you will stop back in again.
Jim I've heard enough snippets about Charles Schultz to make me admire him.
We'll have to wait and see how much insight will come from my philosophical explorations! So far, it has been more interesting than I thought it would be.