Brian’s Reflection: Monday, March 9, 2009

First, there is the bare beauty of the logs themselves with their long lines
and firm curves. Then there is the open charm felt of the structural features
which are not hidden under plaster and ornament, but are clearly revealed,
a charm felt in Japanese architecture.

- Gustav Stickley, furniture maker, born on this day, 1858


Outwardly, I’m for folderol, and lots of it, in worship. All the bells and whistles – especially lots of incense, colourful vestments, great organ and choir, etc. Most of the time. Now older, I still like that approach, but I really love our 8am Eucharist, where about 7 of us sit quietly in a circle, hear the readings followed by a long silence between each, shared comments, the prayers and Eucharist.

As I get older, there is something about simplicity – the kind one finds in Stickley furniture, also sometimes called “mission” style.

I see Stickley furniture as a symbol or metaphor for the maturing inner life of each of us as we age. It’s a description of what the “soul” eventually looks like. The metaphorical plaster and ornament needs to fall away, leaving the “open charm ….. of the “structural features ….. clearly revealed”. In the first decades of Life, the inner landscape gets more and more cluttered, unless one is a very rare person. As one ages, the “work” is to dis-encrust oneself – and of course Life works along with us, prompting us in many ways, some painful, to get on with the work!

If you are over 50, and your Inner Landscape looks like the Louis XIV piece above, time to start aiming for Stickney! Ok, OK, you can keep some of the Louis XIV on the outer surface; don’t panic! (I’m still devoted to very large rings and flowing garments.) But the more like Stickley we look “inside”, the better we’ll all feel and function and relate!

Brian+