Divine Idea by Fabian Kruse
Imitation is Suicide. Insist on yourself; never imitate. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Write down in which areas of your life you have to overcome these suicidal tendencies of imitation, and how you can transform them into a newborn you – one that doesn’t hide its uniqueness, but thrives on it. There is a “divine idea which each of us represents” – which is yours?
(Author: Fabian Kruse)
On Saturday night we walked through the U of C campus, where the Gothic walls and rising fireflies and heavy, expectant scent of midsummer haze reminded me of just that ... a divine idea. My divine idea of going to grad school and the musty smell of books and living in the big city and seeing the lights twinkle and maybe falling in love.
And those things did happen--the lights did twinkle and the books did smell like anciet words and I did fall in love.
But the smell of library got boring and the love didn't quite fit how I thought it would. (The lights, though, were just as good as I thought they would be, and still are.) And now, 8 years later, I have systematically dismantled the pieces of that divine idea. I have clipped and cut and rearranged so the parts no long represent a whole.
I have a newborn collage in front of me--words and memories and tastes of the best parts--waiting to be assembled.
Thank you! I am transported & encouraged by the poetry of your prose. As the light that's guided me for the past year flickers and fades, it's helpful to see what might be possible when the tears stop.
Posted by: Shannon Whissell | July 25, 2011 at 04:19 PM
Ah, this brings to mind for me the mystery of a new puzzle. One has the pieces before them and each must be handled with tenderness and care as they are place in position to create the whole of a new creation.
Posted by: Dragonfly | July 25, 2011 at 05:54 PM
A lovely piece of writing that will encourage everyone who reads it. Myself included. Life is about constantly reinventing your own divine idea and the imagery you evoke using the phrase "newborn collage" is simply stunning.
Posted by: Shannon | July 25, 2011 at 05:56 PM
Oh my goodness. Yes, you do, you really do.
I love the notion that you have everything you need right in front of you. And especially the notion that you can move all those pieces around until they're just right.
Posted by: Kim | July 25, 2011 at 06:50 PM
Wonderful prose. You have piqued my interest. Grad school appeared to not turn out has planned but you alluded to a newborn collage. What is the divine inspiration driving the new collage?
Posted by: Alifewelllivedconcludeswithasmile.blogspot.com | July 26, 2011 at 09:14 AM
@Shannon--Yes, because they do stop, eventually!
@Dragonly--It's totally a puzzle. And just when I think I have it figured out ...
@Shannon--Thanks! :)
@Kim--Exactly. I have to REMIND myself that is really all is there already. I just have to find it in the mess.
@ALifeWElllived--I think the divine inspiration is the next step in life! Being done with school, having a career, and moving on to the next thing ... whatever that may mean. Thanks for your comments!
Posted by: Noel | July 27, 2011 at 10:16 AM
It's kinda' hard - okay, it's VERY hard - to embody the notion that you are everything you need and that you have everything you need, isn't it? I mean, really. I love what Kim said about having all the pieces in front of you and being able to move them around till they suit you.
Posted by: wholly jeanne | August 01, 2011 at 05:51 PM
@Wholly Jeanne--Yes, it is VERY hard. I try to practice a little bit every day. :)It seems to be easier to eat the elephant one bit at a time.
Posted by: Noel | August 02, 2011 at 03:40 PM