Brian’s Reflection: Friday, Sept 25, 2009

Nobody sees a flower - really - it is so small
it takes time - we haven't time - and to see
takes time, like to have a friend takes time.

- Georgia O’Keefe, artist


A dear friend and former parishioner of mine died a couple of weeks ago. His name was Jose Orraca. He was a revered conservationist of photographs and paper, internationally known. He passed through Roman Catholicism, and the Baptist religion, and finally “discovered” the Episcopal Church. He delighted in it, and it was a joy to have him among us.

Early on, Jose lived in the company of Georgia O’Keefe in New Mexico, and knew, and was I believe the trustee of the photographs of, the photographer Alfred Steiglitz, O’Keefe’s lover. There was a lovely photograph he took of Georgia and Alfred on the wall of his studio. Jose died a man still with lots to discover about himself. And he maintained a childlike aspect until his death. I’m glad to have known him.

“We haven’t time.” Sadly true in our culture today. And it is dehumanizing us. Our educational system is focused on producing products in support of consumerism. Developing the whole person has been abandoned. With the result (as a report on PBS about the desperately poor health of so many American children said) that American children are becoming inactive, narrowly educated health problems.

Georgia’s huge flowers helped us really to see flowers, to pay attention to Life. Jose’s restored historical photographs did the same. I think we need to begin another revolution. One that will help us to see the whole human being, to see what is needed to grow and nurture each human person. A revolution that will give us back the time we need to honour human relationships and relearn the art of friendship.

I will think often of Jose’s beautiful restored pictures, reminding me to look deeply and see deep into the human spirit.

Brian+