Time - Life Between the Ticks

"Beauty is bought by judgement of the eye..."

-- W. Shakespeare, Love's Labours Lost (1588)

Tick...tick...tick...tick...

Living life between the ticking of a clock - with digital timepieces young people may soon be growing up not ever realizing what that means. For me, it occurs every day. 

I was researching art for my post on Mary - the Theotokos, just the other morning, when time slowed to a crawl, the distance between the ticks, a split second that became stretched in my mind's eye. She was absolutely beautiful, as I'm sure the artist was well aware, this woman who posed. I inhaled a breath and lived a lifetime, exhaled and time began anew.

She was French, maybe Italian and possibly Jewish. She might have been a New Yorker; time period, oh, let's guess late 19th or very early 20th century. She was probably younger than she looks and all the virgin of the Madonna she was posing to be. Like a photograph, this work would be worthy of note, but from paint, brush, and palette... the artist's ability to capture an essence of her and communicate that to those who would gaze upon canvas is nothing short of breathtaking.  You can almost reach out and wipe the tear from her cheek.  Enlarge the picture, if you dare, and stare into her eyes for a couple of minutes. You can almost feel her staring back; almost see her inhale, and there, a twitch... 

I knew her, but for a second, and I will remember her forever. Mankind's ability to create beauty is as close to God as we will probably ever hope to get.  Those who have such talent are the truly blessed of among us.

Beauty is, indeed, bought by the judgment of the eye, especially when living life between the ticks of a clock.

Tick...tick... tick...

Editor's Note 

(re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card) 

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider another viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and then engaging in peaceful, constructive, discussion in an arena of mutual respect concerning the opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 23 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to the intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, in the guise of the Congregation's official, online, blog, "The Path," of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteers as lead chaplain at a regional medical center.