In my sidebar I’ve linked to a few artists’ blogs who post a painting a day. One day I want to do this…
Seeing, and being seen September 18, 2006
I once read someone’s thoughts on seeing someone whole, outside the limits of linear time. The author proposed the idea of seeing a person’s entire personality over his/her lifetime multidimensionally in the context of eternity (i.e. Alice simultaneously at ages 5, 43, 80…). Metaphorically, instead of seeing just one face of a cut diamond, we see the diamond whole, all the facets at one time which give the diamond its sparkle and lustre. To truly behold someone and to be truly known in this way — what would that be like? It’s intriguing to think about.
I think I might be embarrassed if someone who knows me now, knew me as one of my past selves. I consider myself such a late bloomer and I’ve always been somewhat of a geek — even more of a work in progress (piece of work?) than I am now. On the other hand, friends who knew me in the past might expect me to always be who I was, limiting in expectation Adele at 15 in becoming who she needs and wants to be at 35.
To believe in Someone who knows me outside of time, in this multidimensional personality with all the flaws and imperfections in each face, and still values the diamond as a jewel and not a rock to be tossed, is enticing indeed.
Though we do not see others in this multidimensional way, we sometimes get glimpses. People we know and love, over time become more precious as we recognize their value.
As an aside, I was recently reconnected with a friend from college who I painted for my senior art exhibition. I decided that I would paint her again. Perhaps changes that have taken place, both in her and in me, will be revealed in this endeavor, as I record two distinct glimpses separated by the span of eight years.
Here’s a photo of us eight years ago as well as a sneak peak of this work in progress:
