 |
Can you
feel the
love?
feel the
love?
While walking down a road one day,
I met a stranger on the way.
He was in need and in distress,
In want of food and care and rest.
Without stopping to decide
I quickly helped him come inside
And after he was well and fed
I let him sleep in my own bed
The next day as I walked around
I heard a quiet, whimpering sound
Another person was in need,
Should my heart stop at one good deed?
I helped this one and calmed her fears;
I listened, and I dried her tears.
They say, "You cannot save them all!"
But I knew that this was my call.
I may not fix all that's gone wrong.
I won't pretend that I am strong.
But my duty is to those I see
On the path God gave to me.
"Dear children, let us not love in word or
tongue, but with actions and in truth." 1
John 3:18
I met a stranger on the way.
He was in need and in distress,
In want of food and care and rest.
Without stopping to decide
I quickly helped him come inside
And after he was well and fed
I let him sleep in my own bed
The next day as I walked around
I heard a quiet, whimpering sound
Another person was in need,
Should my heart stop at one good deed?
I helped this one and calmed her fears;
I listened, and I dried her tears.
They say, "You cannot save them all!"
But I knew that this was my call.
I may not fix all that's gone wrong.
I won't pretend that I am strong.
But my duty is to those I see
On the path God gave to me.
"Dear children, let us not love in word or
tongue, but with actions and in truth." 1
John 3:18
Jordan wrote the poem for the card this year. The theme can apply to our lives in various
ways, but in general is challenging the "I gave at the office" mentality. Too often, we feel
that we have done our share, given, donated, volunteered, and done our good deeds, and
that somehow, it is enough. But what is enough? I like to think of a scenario of "The Good
Samaritan Continued". We all know the story of the Good Samaritan, but what happened
when he left the man at the inn and went on his way? What if he happened upon another
beaten man? Would he say he had already done his share, and that this one was for
someone else to care for? We are not responsible for all the Samaritans around the world,
but we are responsible for the ones we come across on our path, no matter how many.
ways, but in general is challenging the "I gave at the office" mentality. Too often, we feel
that we have done our share, given, donated, volunteered, and done our good deeds, and
that somehow, it is enough. But what is enough? I like to think of a scenario of "The Good
Samaritan Continued". We all know the story of the Good Samaritan, but what happened
when he left the man at the inn and went on his way? What if he happened upon another
beaten man? Would he say he had already done his share, and that this one was for
someone else to care for? We are not responsible for all the Samaritans around the world,
but we are responsible for the ones we come across on our path, no matter how many.
The card began back in September. The
first step was Jordan's writing of the poem.
Then we had to figure out how we would
depict this in a card. This was more difficult
than we thought. We tried several layouts
and designs, one of which we hope to use
next year, and in the end wound up using an
idea that we had actually come up with last
year, and hadn't used. We liked the way the
unfolding card resembled the winding path
of the poem. The unfolding card also
seemed to have a garland-like quality to it.
Here Hannah is supervising Maggie's
drawing of the man at the end of the card.
first step was Jordan's writing of the poem.
Then we had to figure out how we would
depict this in a card. This was more difficult
than we thought. We tried several layouts
and designs, one of which we hope to use
next year, and in the end wound up using an
idea that we had actually come up with last
year, and hadn't used. We liked the way the
unfolding card resembled the winding path
of the poem. The unfolding card also
seemed to have a garland-like quality to it.
Here Hannah is supervising Maggie's
drawing of the man at the end of the card.
Every year the card involves the creation of several prototypes,
as we hash out the best way to to proceed, taking into account
simplicity of production. Once all the components - artwork and
lettering - are complete, then they are scanned into the
computer and I attempt to figure out the best way to print out
each section, and print efficiently. This step can be a lot more
time consuming than you might think.
as we hash out the best way to to proceed, taking into account
simplicity of production. Once all the components - artwork and
lettering - are complete, then they are scanned into the
computer and I attempt to figure out the best way to print out
each section, and print efficiently. This step can be a lot more
time consuming than you might think.
After the design and layout are
complete, we must give thought to
what sort of papers and supplies to
use, and then begin the task of finding
the items we are looking for. This
year, several pens were bought that
were never used in the end product.
The card has eleven pages, each of
which began as identical, irregular,
stacking hexagons. They were printed
out on the computer, and we all helped
to cut out the 1,540 pages. Pencil
crayons and white ink pens were then
used to color the various pages.
Almost everyone helped in this step.
complete, we must give thought to
what sort of papers and supplies to
use, and then begin the task of finding
the items we are looking for. This
year, several pens were bought that
were never used in the end product.
The card has eleven pages, each of
which began as identical, irregular,
stacking hexagons. They were printed
out on the computer, and we all helped
to cut out the 1,540 pages. Pencil
crayons and white ink pens were then
used to color the various pages.
Almost everyone helped in this step.
We had decided upon a
lightweight cardstock in a
light blue, so that it would
show through under the
snow, and also show as sky
background. Rubber
cement was used to apply
the "snow". This was a one
ply tissue, which was
covered with a second layer
of rubber cement and
sprinkled generously with
fine, crystal glitter dust.
At this point, all of the
sections needed to be
trimmed of the overhanging
tissue, and then the
pathway pieces were
adhered with rubber
cement.
Next, each of the four
sections was joined
together again with library
tape.
Now the natural elements
were added. The leaves,
small branches, and other
natural greenery were
picked back in October,
and pressed in books for
several weeks to flatten and
dry. I was sweating it when
I realized I did not have as
many leaves as i thought.
By then it was too late to
dry any leaves even if there
were any, which there were
not; they had all fallen off
the trees by then. In the
end, each card is unique,
with various leaves and
branch bits. Not two cards
are exactly alike, and all the
natural pieces are from
trees in our own yard and
surrounding forest.
The rocks in the card were
made with sand.
The pathways were lined
with white, matte, fabric
paint, to resemble snow
along the pathway.
Once dry, the entire card
was trimmed and cut to
resemble a winding
pathway. In order to keep
the paint from sticking to
itself, and the pages from
sticking together, and also
to give an additional snowy
element to the card, each
card was dusted liberally
with cornstarch, then
pressed in books to lie flat,
and finally wiped down and
checked for quality.
lightweight cardstock in a
light blue, so that it would
show through under the
snow, and also show as sky
background. Rubber
cement was used to apply
the "snow". This was a one
ply tissue, which was
covered with a second layer
of rubber cement and
sprinkled generously with
fine, crystal glitter dust.
At this point, all of the
sections needed to be
trimmed of the overhanging
tissue, and then the
pathway pieces were
adhered with rubber
cement.
Next, each of the four
sections was joined
together again with library
tape.
Now the natural elements
were added. The leaves,
small branches, and other
natural greenery were
picked back in October,
and pressed in books for
several weeks to flatten and
dry. I was sweating it when
I realized I did not have as
many leaves as i thought.
By then it was too late to
dry any leaves even if there
were any, which there were
not; they had all fallen off
the trees by then. In the
end, each card is unique,
with various leaves and
branch bits. Not two cards
are exactly alike, and all the
natural pieces are from
trees in our own yard and
surrounding forest.
The rocks in the card were
made with sand.
The pathways were lined
with white, matte, fabric
paint, to resemble snow
along the pathway.
Once dry, the entire card
was trimmed and cut to
resemble a winding
pathway. In order to keep
the paint from sticking to
itself, and the pages from
sticking together, and also
to give an additional snowy
element to the card, each
card was dusted liberally
with cornstarch, then
pressed in books to lie flat,
and finally wiped down and
checked for quality.
| Each December, for a couple weeks, I lose my dining room. |
After coloring the pages,
they were joined together
with library tape into four
sections. We had
eventually decided to print
the path separately on
cigar paper, an
environmentally friendly,
thin, brown paper I found
online. The 8 1/2 by 11
inch size lent itself to
printing the pathway in four
sections. The pathway
pieces were then all printed
out and cut out.
they were joined together
with library tape into four
sections. We had
eventually decided to print
the path separately on
cigar paper, an
environmentally friendly,
thin, brown paper I found
online. The 8 1/2 by 11
inch size lent itself to
printing the pathway in four
sections. The pathway
pieces were then all printed
out and cut out.
The envelope is no
small aspect of the
card either. We
brainstormed several
ideas, and eventually
opted for a translucent
green card. I had
considered translucent
envelopes for many
years, and finally
decided to use them. I
am not sure if it had
the affect I was hoping.
We used a metallic,
light blue stamping ink
to stamp the leaf
shaped on each
envelope, and Jordan
addressed the
envelopes in a
pathway style.
small aspect of the
card either. We
brainstormed several
ideas, and eventually
opted for a translucent
green card. I had
considered translucent
envelopes for many
years, and finally
decided to use them. I
am not sure if it had
the affect I was hoping.
We used a metallic,
light blue stamping ink
to stamp the leaf
shaped on each
envelope, and Jordan
addressed the
envelopes in a
pathway style.
We chose a postage stamp that
we thought went well with the
colors of the card, but when the
whole thing was completed and
we weighed the envelopes, we
found that they weighed in over
one ounce, necessitating extra
postage. Not as pretty, but at
least it should get there.
Maggie and Silas and Eden put
the stamps on the envelopes.
we thought went well with the
colors of the card, but when the
whole thing was completed and
we weighed the envelopes, we
found that they weighed in over
one ounce, necessitating extra
postage. Not as pretty, but at
least it should get there.
Maggie and Silas and Eden put
the stamps on the envelopes.
| And another card is on its way to the post office to be mailed. Every year we pray that the message of the card will touch hearts and make a difference to someone in some way. We would love to hear from you if it has. |
