Sitting in an airport waiting for our next flight, I began noticing the artwork around me. A series of wavy colored beads caught my attention: it looked like an artist's version of the American flag (red, white, and blue). How creative! How patriotic!
Then I remembered I was in London Heathrow and the colors were both the colors of their national flag and those of British Airways... Oops!
(Did you know that more than twelve countries have flags with red, white, and blue as primary colors? United States of America, United Kingdom, France, Russia, Netherlands, Australia...)
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| What catches your attention? (Photo: Airport Artwork - Larry Gardepie) |
What caught my attention and how I connected the information may not have been what the artist or the commissioning benefactor had in mind. Instead, I took what I knew or understood and filtered or projected another meaning. Does this happen to you as well?
These thoughts lingered throughout the next week as our tour group traveled throughout Northern Island, and we were introduced to art, landmarks, symbols, and messages of struggle and peace.
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| What stories do we tell along our journey? (Photo: Downhill Trek to the Giants Causeway, Northern Ireland - Larry Gardepie) |
For example, visiting the Giants Causeway along the northern coastline between Belfast and Derry-Londonderry, we were introduced to an ancient myth of Irish and Scottish giants who created a causeway (rock bridge) between these two islands. The giants wanted to prove who was bigger and stronger. Their focus? Individual loyalty - who was better.
Scientifically, we now have a different understanding about how these rock formations were created, but it was interesting to ponder how we all create stories... myths and legends... about what we don't know. This includes what we don't know about other people!
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| Can our stories bend and change over time? (Photo credit: song by Jeffrey Buckley and Elizabeth Fraser) |
Now that I am home and celebrating this American holiday weekend, I wonder:
- What stories have we created about patriotism and loyalty?
- How do we seek out and allow new information to change us?
- Can we test the accuracy of these myths and legends?
As we journey with one another, let us consider an Augustinian way of thinking and living, where we are called:
- To be loyal to Truth (veritas), Unity (unitas), and Love (caritas).
And where:
- Truth provides a common foundation;
- Unity creates a common framework; and
- Love provides a motivation and compassion that allows everyone to flourish.
Happy Truth-Unity-Love Day!
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| Larry Gardepie
Dialogue San Diego Consulting |
