Paris 2001 - My Love Letter to You

There we were, on streets I’d only imagined,

Buildings I’d studied were now before my eyes.

I never really understood our capitol until now

Its broadness and depth has to be experienced.

We talk of the vastness of Texas

But there is no place in it, made of man,

That is more grand than the

Champs de Elysees, or the Palace at Versailles.

The River Seine is alive with history and beauty.

From against its channel you see

Notre Dame Cathedral, Eifel Tower

Le Bibliotheque, St. Chappelle, The Louvre…

The City is alive with humanity, meeting its needs

In the simple ways we are only beginning to see here

Bread, cheese and wine…outdoors,

Communion in its most communal sense.

The broad avenues of the City

With their parks, monuments and museums,

The warrens of the “left Bank”

Filled with commerce and creativity.

And then night falls with its glorious romance,

The City of Lights comes alive in a new way.

There is a sense of connection to the past,

As if we have eternally been in love.

August 4 - I Went Fishing This Morning

I went fishing this morning,

It’s been almost a year!

The pond was calling,

Maybe hearkening to a memory.

The water’s edge laps against my soul.

As our life is hidden in our blood,

So is earth life hidden,

In the depths and on the surface.

It was smooth as glass.

I had to rig my tackle,

What I have been reading

Encouraged me to do it.

To approach in silence,

and lay out a beautiful line.

Watching the winding thread,

As I jerkingly retrieved it.

Not to take from it,

But to commune with it.

Not as much as a bite,

But what fun I had.

The sky turned gold,

The birds and toads

found their voice

As the sun arose.

I’m not sure when,

It’s been almost a year!

But I’ll be back soon,

the pond will call again.

A Letter to My Architect Friends

Dear friends,

I just finished reading Liturgy of the Ordinary: Sacred Practices in Everyday Life by Tish Harrison Warren (an Anglican priest in South Austin) and wanted to share these quotes with you.

"Part of my sanctification and part of the world’s redemption is for me to learn to do my work well—or at least better than I currently do it."

"At my church we ring bells during our practice of the Eucharist. The acolyte (the person—often a child—assisting the priest) rings chimes when our pastor prepares the communion meal. There is nothing magic about these chimes; nothing superstitious. They are just bells. We ring them in the Eucharistic liturgy, as a way of saying, “Pay attention.” They are an alarm to rouse the congregation, to jostle us to attention, telling us to take note, sit up, lean forward, and notice Christ in our midst. We need this kind of embodied beauty—smells and bells—in our gathered worship, and we need it in our ordinary day to remind us to take notice of Christ right where we are. Dostoyevsky wrote that “beauty will save the world.” This might strike us as mere hyperbole. But as our culture increasingly rejects the idea and language of truth, the church’s (and Architecture’s) role as a harbinger of beauty is a powerful witness to the God of all beauty. Czesław Miłosz wrote in his poem “One More Day”: ‘Though the good is weak, beauty is very strong . . . And when people cease to believe that there is good and evil only beauty will call to them and save them so that they still know how to say: this is true and that is false.’ Being curators of beauty, pleasure, and delight is therefore an intrinsic part of our mission, a mission that recognizes the reality that truth is beautiful." (Italicized words added by James, bolding as well.)

I was pointed to this book by one of my sons who is planning to use it as a part of a sermon series.  One of the blessings of my life is to have a committee of reading family and friends who are willing and able to share their favorite new findings with me. 

These words brought you, and our professional association, to mind.  They led me to think back on our work through the years to lift up the cause of our profession before ourselves, colleagues and community.  I pray they resonate with you as well.

Blessings,

James

Reply from friend Bryce:

James and Friends,  Thanks for linking the secular with the sacred……it abounds in everything we see.  "How does that flower blossom?”.   “ How can the bee find nectar?”  The TSA theme of several years ago-- ‘Beauty’ —still resonates in all of you.  Cheers, Bryce 

Reply from friend Dan:

Thanks James.  You reminded me of one of the highlights at Frank Welch’s memorial service here in Midland at the end of June.  After the service (at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Trinity), the priest had us gather outside around the bell tower of Frank’s design.  The bells tolled as we reflected in his memory.  It was indeed a sweet, transcendent and beautiful moment.

Reply from friend Elizabeth:

Thanks for ringing our bell!

Morning Arrives

It's already light, the gentle breeze

welcomes me aboard.

A brightness is now arriving, 

as the sun rises behind me. 

First on tops of distant trees,

then sliding down the trunks. 

Next upon the hillock

then creeping down its slopes.

On the face of the opposing bank,

edging across the surface of the pond. 

Now the willows on our side,

and creeping up the lawn.

It is now upon me!

Protected from its heat

by our cottage porch,

it is resplendent before me!

Its searching and shadows

Announcing another summer day.

Its heat yet to manifest itself, 

The joy of the cool earth says,

"Good morning!"…once more. 

On An August Evening

It was a beautiful morning!

Over half an inch of morning rain

Cool front blew through,

High in the eighties!

Done with our work.

Let’s walk the back nine!

just after the next cloud passes.

Okay, Let’s have a drink!

Until the next cloud passes.

Are you ready?

Now another shower.

Getting a little sultry.

We’ll be okay.

I’ll carry a bag for both of us.

We need the exercise.

Feels like we are still in New Mexico!

Com’on, let’s go!

What happened to that little breeze?

This hill is longer than I remember.

Boy, is it humid, or what?

When will get the cart back?

My glove is soaked.

Let’s skip 13, 14, 15,

I think I can make it

If we cut it to 6 holes.

What happened to the clouds?

That sun is brutal!

Why are you walking so fast?

This bag is like a dead weight.

I’m identifying with those pro caddies,

No wonder they are in great shape

My legs are giving out

Glad 18 is downhill!

We made it home,

My clothes are soaked.

Just a quarter mile up hill.

Look at that sunset!

It was a beautiful day.

Memories of My Mentor: Henry Levy, AIA, Savannah, GA

Memories of My Mentor 

On a ladder in my garage replacing a lighting ballast. 
All the wiring connected and I flip the switch. 
Success! 

Then the memories flood in… 

Wasn’t I here 40 years before? 
Henry asking me, “Do you think you can… 
Replace the ballasts in our old fixtures? 
Replace the sign out front?” 

Or, “Sketch a bird’s eye view of a fictional place? 
Detail this intricate framing? 
Design a moulding pattern?” 

Or, “Work on this agency board? 
Give blood?” 
“Help these folks with a new community project?” 

Or “Take a navigation course?” 
“Go with me to Little Tybee? 
The Tower? 
Blackbeard Island?” 

He always asked, but there was little debate 
As I really didn’t know that I couldn’t. 
His confidence in me was convincing, 
And he always knew that I could.

A Pair of Blue Birds

A pair of blue birds visited the box in our pasture Friday evening,

Just for a moment.

I couldn't tell if they were regulars, or maybe newcomers. 

We have had vacancy. 

I checked the box only a few days ago and found a beautiful nest. 

Was this an inspection?

Through sunlit strands of airborne spider spinnings I really couldn't tell.

Maybe they’ll return soon?

I hope they do, for it is a joy when they are home.

Glory! Returned this morning!