state of wonder

Glenn Gould says “the purpose of art is the lifelong construction of a state of wonder “.

That resonates with me. I often feel a sense of wonder in the patterns and palettes I notice all around me.

Just this morning…

looking down from my hotel room,

along the walk to get my morning cappuccino,

Even- or, especially, latte art.

Walking back to the hotel, we spotted a banner outside the OLD STATEHOUSE.

Talk about patterns. And history as well.

A video accompanied the show, featuring a number of descendants of the quit makers. One woman stated, “quilts are documents that can be read and from which we can gain great knowledge.” Using just scraps of cloth, these wondrous quilts were sewn.

On our way out of town, we stopped at Little Rock Central High School. Now a national historic site, Central High was the place of forced integration after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1954 that segregation of public schools was unconstitutional. The Little Rock Nine were nine African American students who integrated the school, accomplished only after President Eisenhower called in the National Guard.

Check out the design of the school which looks just as it did in 1954. Standing across the front grounds I gazed in wonder, both of the beauty of the structure, but wonder also about bravery and intentional justice.

We then headed north, taking by-ways instead of interstates. Our destination was Thronecrown Chapel in Eureka Springs.

The American Institute of Architects named the chapel 4th in the top buildings of the 20th century.

At one with the Creator God’s landscaping, it offered quiet wonder.

I ended this day with a personal taste of wonder. Cotton Candy!