SHOWER THOUGHT: The first humans sent on
a voyage to another solar system might be greeted by humans who were sent later
using faster space ships.
Every year, I try to find something new to conquer. I have
never been much of a hobbyist, and yet I have always yearned to find that “one
thing” that I can delight in and which might help me pass the time in a way
that is more productive than watching television, going to movies, or reading
books – all sedentary activities.
One year a friend suggested I take up golf. I was reluctant
to give it a shot; years earlier when I had only just become a teen, my uncle
took my brother and me out to shoot a round at a local golf course. I had never
had lessons, had never gripped a club or struck a ball with one. I had seen the
game played on television (black and white, grainy picture, and 13 inch screen)
so I had an idea of what to do. I think we played nine holes and I shot
something in the neighborhood of 180 (not counting swings and misses).
So I didn’t have much confidence I would do any better
playing golf as a middle-aged couch potato. Still, he encouraged me to give it
a go and even went so far as to set me up for some lessons with an instructor
at the local public golf course. I took the lessons and must admit it helped
bring my score down out of the stratosphere. I don’t think I ever parred a hole
(but I can par boil eggs). I gave the game a run for a year or so but came to
know deep in my heart that it wasn’t a sport, activity, or hobby I’d be good
enough to actually enjoy, so I eventually gave away my clubs and equipment to a
relative who had interest in the game – and skills.
I’ve tried other hobbies, of course. I strove to play the
Recorder for a bit, but I didn’t have money to blow for lessons. I entertained
woodworking for a while, but I board (sic) of it too quickly. I branched out
into whittling but couldn’t make the cut there, either. I wrote music for
church, but nothing of note came from that. Then I pictured myself becoming a photographer,
but that didn’t develop the way I expected it to, either.
So this year, I thought I would take up calligraphy. If I
become good at it, maybe I can ink a deal to create note cards for special
occasions, like weddings or baptisms.
I bought a beginner’s set; it included the pen, a variety
of nibs, and a bottle of ink. The online advertisement said the set also came
with a case, but what they meant was one could use the cardboard box they came
in “as” a case. I was underwhelmed on that score, but I appreciated the rest of
it anyway.
First chance I had, I got everything out and set up and
began to practice my calligraphy skills and must admit the results were more
legible than my standard handwriting. I use the word “handwriting” very loosely
as it looks more like a seismographic scrawl than a row of letters or a
sentence. I can’t even read what I’ve written, for heaven’s sake!
Moving on, what amazed me at first was how often I had to
dip the pen into the ink to draw enough fluid to produce a letter or two. It is
very slow going, and I can now appreciate what it took for the writers of the
scriptures to produce the books of the Bible. I think we take it for granted
that everything just fell perfectly into place, but what a painstaking process
it is!
If I had to rely on a traditional stylus, ink, and vellum
(or papyrus) upon which to write letters, sermons, poetry, or the like, I doubt
I would have the stamina to produce more than a couple of pieces per year. On
the other hand, it would look so pretty.
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