Full disclosure: This particular post may constitute nepotism. This is a photo I took of one of my wife’s recent works of art. Her medium is her morning coffee. In her early years she had a brief stint as an espresso pilot at a Seattle coffee company. She is now a professional counselor and educational consultant but has maintained her passionate love affair with coffee. Comparatively my sensibilities are simple and perhaps vulgar—I am perfectly content with a black cup of instant coffee. For my wife, preparing the morning brew can be a spiritual experience. This is not just about drinking a good cup of coffee. It is the entire experience, which starts with selecting her cup and culminates with the decision of where to enjoy her warm beverage. She has been practicing this art for decades.
The highlight of this process, however, is when she pours in the cream and other secret additives. The patterns are exquisitely dynamic—small, temporal, fleeting worlds of bubbles and swirling clouds. The difficulty documenting her art is likely why she is still an undiscovered talent. For decades I have been asked to examine her coffee before she consumes it. I confess there are days I rebuff her joyful attempt to share. This particular morning was different. I saw and immediately took a photograph with my phone. It is remarkable to me the depth of visual interest one can make in a cup of coffee. It makes me wonder how many other miracles we ignore every day.
Hi Dave, Clyde showed me your blog post and pic. I totally agree with Sarah’s methods and Inspiration over coffee. I have taken numerous photos of coffee especially when we were first quarantined. It seems people were doing all kind of artsy things then to direct their creativity into new channels. I’ve always been fascinated by the very small things that go on all around us, every day and unseen. Speaks to me of God and how he has left no stone unturned and how he is the God of such exquisite detail … even though we don’t observe them very often. At the bottom of the ocean there are magnificent happenings and bizarre creatures going about their created business … but how many of us stop to think about this or search for pictures captured by those who have visited there?
There are hosts of happenings going on all the time and in the ink darkness of the lowest floors of the earth … just the way God planned them. When I was a child I would lay in the grass and part the blades to look for tiny bugs, ants or doodle bugs as we called them. They would go about their business as I observed the minuscule work they would do.
Anyway, the point is, you caused me to reflect on the unseen precise details that our Creator planned even though most of us go on about our business without a clue of the magnificence going on all around us . . .
Creation sings all the time! Thank you Sarah dear for being so observant with the little unobserved world around us … bubbles in brew. Now I think I’ll go sit in the grass and ponder life unseen.
Hmmm …
Deb
Thanks Deborah. We miss you guys! Say hey to your Hubby.