A kaleidoscope is a cylinder
with mirrors
containing loose, colored objects such as beads or pebbles and bits of
glass. As the viewer looks into one end, light entering the
other creates a colorful pattern, due to the reflection off of the mirrors. Coined in 1817
by Scottish inventor Sir David Brewster,[1]
"kaleidoscope" is derived from the Ancient
Greek καλός (kalos), "beautiful, beauty",[2] εἶδος (eidos), "that which is seen: form,
shape"[3]
and σκοπέω
(skopeō), "to look to, to examine",[4]
hence "observer of beautiful forms." [5]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaleidoscope
Just days ago while visiting St. Petersburg ,
Florida I asked a dear friend Katherine if
she enjoyed kaleidoscopes? I am sure it seemed like a quirky question to her but
it was what popped into my mind. What
prompted the question you wonder? My answer is that it must have been all that
seemed to be happening in our midst, we were moving so quickly, but each occurrence
left a memorable impression. It was one great blessed colorful layer upon
another. The experiences were pronounced, vivid, colorful and lively. Here’s
what I am referencing:
(i.e. Witnessing the uninhibited pelicans interfering with the fishermen’s
space @ The Pier:
Possibly it was our walking past the majestic Banyan Tree after leaving the
Fine Arts Museum:
Or maybe it was the street banners hanging celebrating Carter G. Woodson.
Carter Godwin
Woodson
(December 19, 1875 – April 3, 1950)[1]
was an African-American historian, author, journalist
and the founder of the Association
for the Study of African American Life and History. Woodson was one of the
first scholars to study African American history. A founder of Journal of Negro History (now
titled The Journal of African-American History), Dr. Woodson has been
cited as the father of
black history.[2]
Or it must have been Katherine’s alterations and outstanding couture designs
which were being donned throughout the pageant:
Countless other kaleidoscope excursions come to mind! I bet you have your own also?
Gosh, I haven’t owned a kaleidoscope since I was a little girl living in the
“Fruit Belt” in Buffalo , New York .
Mileka and I were life long friends and generally if she received a gift from
her folks, so did I! I distinctly recall
my kaleidoscope being a red cardboard cylinder filled with rattling pieces and curiosity
got the best of me! I did as children
often do and took it apart! You guessed it! With my juvenile ingenuity I could
not reassemble what instantly had been demolished! My dissecting the
kaleidoscope and pouring out the contents exposed the fragile contents and that
was the end of that gift.
After pulling apart this handheld toy, there still remained a puzzle about how
those few pieces of plastic and card board shapes could create such an array of
attractive shapes and visions with each twist of the wrist. I had no
appreciation of the collected: mirrors, the filtered light and reflections needed to
complete this masterful creation. My reborn excitement has me in pursuit once again in
my adult life of a kaleidoscope. There will be no need to examine it and
obliterate its beauty. It’s magical,
almost mystical how threads, beads, shards of glass, colorful shapes are
transformed into geometric masterpieces. Like our life experiences some of
these moments cause us to gasp in amazement and marvel at the colorful
personalities, experiences, sights and sounds which can delight and uplift our
spirits. We are often twisted by life’s surprises, but thank God for His marvelous light.
Yes my friends, the Spirit of our living God dwells among us and His being
is all around us. Scriptures can come to life! There is so much to be
thankful for! And I felt compelled to remind you that in our simple abundance if we
simply examine the layers and activities of our days, then it’s not hard to acknowledge and see the evidence
of our Lord and Savior. Come on and feel the rays- it's alright to stop and appreciate life's kaleidoscope!
Just take a look
around! With new eyes-see, feel and marvel the warm rays of the true
and transformative beautiful light!
I believe that I shall look upon the goodness
of the LORD in the land of the living! Psalm 27:13 (ESV)
Joyful, Joyful,
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