Since March, dentists everywhere share stories of cracked teeth like they never saw before. The pain drives patients to dentists despite the virus. It seems jaws at night clinch tight enough to crack the strongest bones in our bodies. How come? Fear.
So many of us fear so many things, and the list gets longer every day. Conversations with our friends seem to begin and end with fear. Phrases like “Stay safe” punctuate every conversation. Walking around town, every sign warns us of something to fear. “Stop” (or someone will drive into you), “Put your money here“ (or someone might steal it), “No Parking” (or your car will be towed). Fear? It’s everywhere. The Bible is said to mention “fear” 365 times—I didn’t count, but it seems right. It is a big deal. So, what is the answer?
Sculpture.
No really, sculpture.
Every sculptor I know (outside New York) wants you to feel something to solve a fear. I choose joy as that something, but others choose youth, whimsy, romance, nature, nostalgia or a dozen other topics intended to lead you away from fear into understanding and peace. Ironically, sculptors must defy their own fears to create these refuges. But not your problem. Task yourself only with engagement.
A rose offers marvelous beauty, aroma and taste (if you are a deer) but only for those souls who pause to engage. The rose stands fearlessly tall for all passers-by, but only some benefit. Same with sculpture. Someone fearlessly placed a sculpture amongst the warning signs and fears to give you an oasis. Self-select to calm your soul. Walk by the fear signs. Ignore them, but open your soul to the sculpture you see.
The teeth you save may be your own.
Write if you see beauty,
Harold
So many of us fear so many things, and the list gets longer every day. Conversations with our friends seem to begin and end with fear. Phrases like “Stay safe” punctuate every conversation. Walking around town, every sign warns us of something to fear. “Stop” (or someone will drive into you), “Put your money here“ (or someone might steal it), “No Parking” (or your car will be towed). Fear? It’s everywhere. The Bible is said to mention “fear” 365 times—I didn’t count, but it seems right. It is a big deal. So, what is the answer?
Sculpture.
No really, sculpture.
Every sculptor I know (outside New York) wants you to feel something to solve a fear. I choose joy as that something, but others choose youth, whimsy, romance, nature, nostalgia or a dozen other topics intended to lead you away from fear into understanding and peace. Ironically, sculptors must defy their own fears to create these refuges. But not your problem. Task yourself only with engagement.
A rose offers marvelous beauty, aroma and taste (if you are a deer) but only for those souls who pause to engage. The rose stands fearlessly tall for all passers-by, but only some benefit. Same with sculpture. Someone fearlessly placed a sculpture amongst the warning signs and fears to give you an oasis. Self-select to calm your soul. Walk by the fear signs. Ignore them, but open your soul to the sculpture you see.
The teeth you save may be your own.
Write if you see beauty,
Harold
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