Clearly, this is confusing

Chaos and Order

are not mutually exclusive.

Randomness and Selectivity

do not come with iron-clad guarantees.

Uncertainty

is wrapped in reams of

Absolutes.

Overt structure belies covert disarray.

Appearances are always

just appearances.

Moments of clarity

are flanked by hours

of confusion.

If there is a plan,

there are also accidents

waiting to disrupt

the plan.

Captivated By Time

Patterns.
Colors.
Lines.
Faces.
Expressions.
Captivating captives.
Marking time.

Fresh technique on this one.  I did a 'finger paint' background, then placed the various images with the finger painting peeking out from behind, in the cracks between.  Not quite convinced it adds anything to the overall effect, particularly.

Fall Feasts!

The Fall Feasts

are once again upon us!

The three feasts of the LORD

that fall in the "seventh month"

(of the biblical Hebrew calendar),

and which are described

in Leviticus 23:23-44,

will be here in just a few days.

Yom [Zichron] Teruah

(the Feast [Day] of Shouting ~ aka Trumpets),

Yom Kippur

(the Day of Atonement),

and

Sukkot

(the Feast of Booths or Tabernacles or Shelters).

HERE

is some further discussion/explanation.

Chaotic Order

Finding order in chaos

is a bit cliche, yes?

Yet our lives are defined

by chaotic order.

Moments strung together

by nothing more

than the fact that

we are present.

Thoughts in our heads

and

stimuli to all of our senses.

Color, light, shadow,

patterns, words, phrases,

whispers, tunes, shouts,

exclamations, interrogatives,

declarations, complaints, praise,

whether faint or otherwise.

The links from one moment

to the next

are less tenuous

than we care to admit.

Shreds of Memory

Like

ticker tape

incessant

insistent

memories

pile up

inside us

random access

in every recess

beyond excess

keep it

let it rest

hiding from your

consciousness

then

suddenly

rising up

unbidden

like

ticker tape

incessant

Interpretive Chance

Questions.

No answers.

Retro becomes post-modern.

Exclamations without context.

Revelations without relevance.

Smile.

Ponder.

Wonder.

Scratch your head.

Surprise.

Shock.

Complacency.

Expectations find expression.

Ruminations find confession.

Knowing the unknowable.

Thinking the unthinkable.

Seeing.

Speaking.

Doing.

Random Shreds

Life

is

full

of

random shreds;

little bits

and

snippets

of

color,

light,

surprise,

cheer,

wonder,

shock,

tragedy,

humor,

love,

delight,

anticipation,

satisfaction,

disappointment,

an

endless stream

of

powerful

discovery

and

emotion.

Take your

collection

of

shreds

and

be

beautiful.

Nose to Nose

How often

do we

come nose to nose

with indisputable truth

but cannot bear to look it in the eye?

Or

how many times

have you seen something

up close

and

you were

SO SURE

you knew

what you were looking at;

then

it turned out to be

a lie,

a deceit,

a counterfeit,
an illusion?

Proximity

does not guarantee

understanding

or

acceptance.

Unity in Diversity

Human facial profiles:

brow

nose

lips

chin

Recognizable common traits,

yet innumerable variations.

They say that

our faces are not symmetrical;

that the left side

of each person's face

does not exactly match

the right side.

Diversity

is built right in

to our physical structures.

We are meant to be

unique

in the midst of

our sameness.

Yet

too many of us

focus on our differences,

to the detriment

of our commonalities.

Unity in diversity.

A wholesome ideal,

kept distant

by human nature.

Blue Done It

Inescapable

blue.

Sky,

water,

birds,

flowers,

butterflies,

fruits,

jeans,

emotions.

Moody Lagoon.

Misty Song Sung.

Crystal Persuasion

and Suede Shoes.

Velvet Angel Tango.

Bell Bottom Bayou.

Mad Man Moon

in the Summertime.

Magic Orchid Heaven,

Barefoot Rock Bottom.

Long Gone Lonesome, Beautician, Souvenirs.

Helplessness,

Hill Street,

Roadhouse,

Down Home,

Midnight Smuggler's

and

I Guess that's Why They Call It...

Don't It Make Your Brown Eyes...

Love Is...

Hand in Hand

An unbroken chain

of hands

holding hands

stretches through

history.

We have spoken

to each other

with words

written,

spoken,

sung;

truth and lies;

foolish and wise;

whispered,

shouted,

declared,

growled,

sobbed,

projected;

our story passed

from generation

to generation

hand in hand

our moments passed

from one life

to another life;

from heart to heart.

Keeping the Center

Surrounded by

shards and shreds

of life and memory

we must keep at our center

the Shema:

Shema, Yisrael;

Adonai Eloheinu,

Adonai Echad.

Hear, O Israel,

the LORD our God,

the LORD is One.

Me Qua Me

The theme

in every day of my life

is basically

...

me.

Not meaning to be

self-centered,

but I am

the only one

(besides The Creator!)

who never

leaves my presence.

The more or less random

entry

of loads of other

inputs, personalities, influences,

artwork, memories, daydreams...

It still is

who I am becoming.

Little sips

and nibbles

here and there

of untold

numbers of thoughts and experiences

all add up to

a constantly developing

me.

Flag Day 2016

Enduring symbol of hope and freedom.

Gives rise to deep stirring of many memories.

"Long may you wave."

Time Tells

Reality.

Fantasy.

Past.

Present.

Future.

Art.

Nature.

Self.

Others.

Hope.

Fear.

Laughter.

Tears.

Color.

Light.

Darkness.

Joy.

Peace.

Friendship.

Love.

Too Funny

Laughter.

Best medicine.

Laugh more.

Every day.

Laugh at yourself.

Laugh at life.

Laugh.

You know

you want to.

Noise

We keep

looking,

listening,

wondering

what is all the noise

and

how does it all fit

into our 

not-so-tidy

existence?

Life's Moments

All of the moments

of our lives

strung together

make us who we are

today.

At any given moment,

all of those previous moments

may crowd into our consciousness

and exhilarate us,

excite us,

frighten us,

sadden us,

delight us.

At any given moment.

Mysteries Inside Us

Mysteries

are hidden

deep inside us.

Good and bad.

Aspirations.

Dreams.

Hopes, prayers.

Ideas.

Expectations.

Disappointments.

Successes, failures.

Who came in

to stay.

Who didn't.

Still inside us,

deep.

The Adventure Awaits

Life.

Adventure.

Images and words

prompt

memories,

emotions.

All of it

adds up to

who you are

becoming.

Not all of it

is input of your

choosing,

but your choices

about its effects

will make a difference

in

who

you

are