Winged Victory

Nike Winged Victory of Samothrace
Favorite. Favorite. Favorite.
A while ago, I said I would make a post about this piece. Because I LOVE IT, and why I Love it seems to need some explaining. :)  So I'm going to explain. Finally. (I know I promised I would a couple months ago.)

First, just look at it.  It is beautiful, in and of itself, is it not?

I think so. Anyway, let's break it down.

BACKGROUND: I think I should probably include a little bit of historical/cultural info.  The Nike is the Greek goddess of victory, usually shown in art next to Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom and war and the patron for the capitol city, Athens. When these two goddesses are shown in a work, it is to symbolize the support of the gods in whatever battle is being shown.  The Nike also indicates that the hero was successful, or victorious - hence, victory. Go figure. :)
In this portrayal, Nike is not next to Athena, but is alone. Just Nike. Victory.  She was originally placed on the front of a battle ship.  Putting her there is a way of praying for her help in the upcoming battle, so that they could be victorious.


CARVING: This is made of marble.  Imagining the process of carving that tough stuff just boggles my mind regardless of anything else I know and Love about this statue. This marble is carved so realistically, it almost makes me forget that this was originally a clump of rock.
First of all, the cloth, or drapery.  This is arguably my favorite part of the whole work.  Not only does it look convincingly like folded cloth, but it is cloth that is blowing in the wind, and looks WET. (Wet drape is a characteristic trait of High Classical art, by the way.) How this was done, I don't know, but it's amazing.  AND it makes sense because she is on the front of a ship, where it would be wet and windy. Coincidence? I think not.
Next, the wings. Oh my goodness, the wings.  This lower image is a fairly good picture of them.  The way they are carved makes the light fall on them just so, and it gives them LIFE.  I don't have much to say about the wings, other than they are just beautiful.
And the skin.  It doesn't look like rock, it looks like it has the texture of flesh. It looks soft. Wow.

AND SO: (ya, creative little subtitle there, I know.)
Nike is flying at the front of a ship, ready to support her loyal troops in battle.

Her wings are spread,
the wind is flowing through her dress,
she is stepping forward in anticipation,
she looks like she could be flying, though she is made of stone.

I really wish I knew who the artist of this was so I can thank him/her for it in the afterlife.  Maybe someday I will know.
This is absolutely beautiful. Ah, I just can't describe how much I Love it.

Hope you enjoyed this. I feel quite happy.
Thank you,
Kiki

River Angel

Thought I would bring this up again. It was one of the first poems I wrote, and it's not as good as my more recent ones, but it still makes me smile. :)
This is a poem dedicated to all of my close friends. I will probably tag ya'll on Facebook again when I get on this Saturday.


Water to a Riverbed...
they go together like you and me.
Without the Water in that Riverbed,
it's dried up and empty.
Nothing grows on dry ground.
It's void of the joy and beauty of life.
Just like I become without you.


The eyes of an Angel;
what I see when I look at you.
And your smile is an Angel's
you may not think it but it's true.
You don't know how much I need you
but that's not a problem
because you're always there for me
you have the Soul of an Angel.


A flower without a stem...
I float aimlessly without you.
Somehow knowing there's something missing
but not knowing what or how to find it.
And those delicate petals eventually tear in ways that seem
Unhealable.


But, you Angel
you can heal me.
Help me get together the pieces
fill that Riverbed.


The eyes of an Angel;
what I see when I look at you.
And your smile is an Angel's
you may not think it but it's true.
You don't know how much I need you
but that's not a problem
because you're always there for me
you have the Soul of an Angel.


I'm so lucky to be blessed with a friend like you.
Thank you for being there
comforting me through any pain I may have.
You are all Angels in my mind.
My love for you is so great, I just want you to know that.
Thanks again!

Moroni's How Tos

There are times when Mormon is quite blunt, and a little harsh, about what we need to do to survive and live righteously in a corrupt world.  I, for one, am grateful for his council.
Mormon 9: 20-21: "and the reason he ceaseth to do miracles among the children of men is because that they dwindle in unbelief... whoso believeth in Christ, doubting nothing, whatsoever he shall ask the Rather in the name of Christ is shall be granted him." The only reason He may stop helping us is because of our doubt and unbelief in Him.  Without Faith, He can't help us. Faith is a connector between us and God.  This can very much be related to aligning our will with His - see "When Prayers Go Unanswered" in a previous weekly BoM post.

Ether 1:38: Jared and His brother have great faith in the Lord, and are incredibly obedient.  They ask what the Lord would have them do, and say  "who knoweth but the Lord will carry us to a land which is choice above all the earth?"

Ether 2: 25 "ye cannot cross this deep save I prepare you against the waves of the sea and the floods which shall come" Though the Lord was referring to a literal situation (Jared and his family needed to cross the actual sea) this can be related back to Helaman 5:12 - about the sea we go through in life, and how we need the Lord's help.  We "cannot cross this deep save [He] prepare[s us] against the waves of the sea and the floods which shall come"

I have some more thoughts. Wait, Kiki, MORE thoughts?? Ridiculous. ;)
I really really like doing this weekly BoM thing.  Why?  It shows me how much I have gained from my scriptures in the past week.  It shows me how much I am learning and progressing.  I think there is a reason my amazing and fabulous BoM teacher (Brother Tyler Griffin) has us do these weekly discussion boards.  I think, in my future religion classes, and in my study for the rest of my life, I am going to do a weekly post on what I learned from my scripture study.  It's so refreshing and makes me so happy how much I really am gaining from all of it! And I also sometimes hope what I have to say will help someone else.  It's been a really excellent growing experience to do these, and I want to continue.

Happy studying, happy living! Love you lots!
Kiki

Being Right

Just ask yourself if you find this situation familiar: You are in an argument. You KNOW you are right.
"I am right! You are not! And I wont stop talking about it until I convince you I am right, too!!! GRAH!!!!"
And here's the kicker - the person you're arguing with is thinking the exact same thing.

I do this a lot.  There are a lot of times when I'm fully convinced I'm right, and I'll be incredibly stubborn about it. To the point of yelling at and being bitter at those I Love and cherish.  I got to thinking about this last night, and then I thought:

Is it really that important?
Being right, that is.  Even if you are in the right, and whoever you're talking to is in the wrong...

Is it more important to be right than to keep others from hurting?
Is being right more important than a sibling?
Is being right more important than a best friend?
Is it so important to be right that you would risk a day, an hour, or even a few minutes of time that could have otherwise been a happy memory - merely to prove yourself?
Is being right more important than being Loving?


So what if I prove myself right -  if I hurt someone I Love dearly in the process? 
So what if I think my undeniably "right" answer needs to be realized? Is that need so much that I would make someone else dislike me, be bitter, or even cry?

That's when it came to me.  The people I hold dear are much more important to me than that. Much, much more.

So next time I'm being accused of saying something I know I didn't... "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it that way - I meant it like this."
Next time something is taken from me without my permission... "It's just a thing. You're more important to me than that. Could you ask next time, though?"
Next time I have something oh-so-knowledgable to contribute, I will refrain - if what I have to say is going to spar a hurtful fight.

Being right is not more important to me than my sisters, my parents, my friends...
If being right will cost me a relationship, or even one could-have-been-happy moment, it's not worth it; that cost is something I'm not willing to pay.
Are you?

Until Now

This is a poem that I started in May. Yes, May. It's now completed.
This is a sort of sequel to a poem I wrote in September of 2009. Here's the link to that one, if you wish to read it.
From The Start.

And now back to your feature presentation... :)

Until Now


You know me, that is certain
Predict a reaction
with only a fraction
of doubt - draw the curtain

Different on our own
How I should have known
Conversations so keen
And with that certain ring...

Cling. Words through my mind
Memoirs of old
What was done, what was told
You and I - now I find

A puzzle. Me.
Always unfinished
Yet something diminished
brings more - see?

A new understanding?
Too many thoughts landing
so much I've been handing
away

Built up and then broken
Twice
The warmth of the summer then
Ice

Only the same on our own
How I should have known; should have seen
Things we wouldn't say
If they weren't away... certain ring

Cling. Rush through my head
This or that feeling instead
What was done, what was said
gather - and then have fled

Thoughts so kind...

Shouldn't be this way
Neither go nor stay
From the Start - Until Now
Can I attempt to say how?

Undefined.

Mormon's How Tos

4 Nephi 1:23 "rich because of their prosperity in Christ"
You can cross reference this to Mormon 5:10, where Mormon says: "realize and know from whence their blessings come"  This is the reason Mormon is including the pride cycle, so the people who read the book can realize the source of the problem, and know where their prosperity comes from so they don't fall into the same cycle.  Let's apply the wise words of this prophet!

4 Nephi 1: 41 "and they did... build up churches unto themselves" I had an interesting thought with this phrase: They did not build their churches unto God, the one who instigated the churches for them in the first place.  They were using things He created to build unto themselves.  We will get so much more out of life is we build the things in it unto their original creator - God.  A life dedicated to and built for the Lord will be a happy one. :)

Mormon 2: 26 "and did beat them nevertheless the strength of the Lord was not with us" Don't fight this way. Mormon is giving us examples of this so we can recognize when we fall into doing it.

Mormon 3:1 "preparing their lands and their arms against the time of battle" Mormon has definitely read his scriptures! He is applying the war tactics of Moroni. This reminds me to apply the words of the prophets, just like Mormon did.

Mormon 5:1 "and did repent of the oath which I had made that I would no more assist them" The word "repent" used here is interesting.  It reminds me that, though Mormon is probably the most righteous among them, he is still repenting and constantly turning to the Lord. Righteous people are always repenting, that's what makes them righteous.

Mormon 5:24 "tear you in pieces, and none can deliver" This is a portion of the same phrase from 3 Nephi 20:16 and 3 Nephi 21:12.  I'm still not sure exactly what it means. (Refer to this post, scroll down to 3 Nephi 20:16.)

Christ is With Us

3 Nephi 26: 9, 11: "And when they shall have received this, which is expedient that they shall have first, to try their faith, and if it shall be that they shall believe these things then shall the greater things be manifest unto them... Behold, I was about to write them all which were engraven on the plates of Nephi, but the Lord forbade it..."
There is MORE in the teachings of Christ to the Americas that we do not have in the Book of Mormon.  However, in reading this, I got the feeling that much of what is missing thee came after the Lord "tried the faith" of  the people - and that we have it in the D+C as well as through the words of prophets today.  Those words are the Lords words, they are incredibly important! :)

3 Nephi 26:13: "...the Lord truly did teach the people for the space of three days... and did break bread oft..."
By including this detail, Mormon reminds us that Christ is to be remembered, though the sacrament, oft.  This can happen not only on Sunday, but as we remember our covenants with Him throughout the week.  What a great reminder. :)

3 Nephi 27: 13-21: "this is my gospel..."
In the next 9 verses, Christ lays out a concise version of His gospel.  It's amazing how He does it, and is a great place to reference back to!

3 Nephi 28:9: When Christ is speaking to His newly ordained apostles, he says: "And again, ye shall not have pain... neither sorrow save it be for the sins of the world.. for ye have desired that ye might bring the souls of men unto me"  This is a promise to all dedicated missionaries!  How did I get that out of it? "...for ye have desired that ye might bring the souls of men unto me" - anyone who has this same desire (namely, dedicated missionaries) have this same promise. 

All of the things I've found in my reading this week testify that Christ is still with us and guiding us today. He lives and he Loves you. :)

Believe, Do, Become

I absolutely Love what Brother Griffin taught us about Christ's New Law, and how it is a law of "becoming".  We talked about how the be-attitude in 3 Nephi 12:8, "pure in heart" refers to one's motive.  Our motive is why we do something, and we need to ask ourselves if we follow Christ's law for the right reasons, or because it's expected or because others around us are doing it.  Brother Griffin stressed how this Gospel isn't about saying the right things, or even DOING the right things (which is a little surprising), it's about becoming the right person.  This is interesting to me, because I remember a general conference talk one given about how, when we really believe something, we will DO something about it.  It encouraged action.  While this 'becoming' concept still encourages action, it raises the bar, making the concept like this: Believe-->Do-->Become.  I Love this concept, and how each persons progression is an incredibly personal process with them and the Lord.  He has a path for each of us, and a way for each of us to come to Him.  All we need to do is ask Him what we need to do to get on our personal path to Him, and He will help us. :)

 Here's some more insights from my reading this week, if you want to read those, too.

3 Nephi 20:16: The phrase "As a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who if he goeth through both treadeth down and teareth into pieces, and none can deliver" appears in this verse as well as in 21:12.  I'm not exactly sure what it means, and I'm curious.  I'm a little ahead in the reading, so maybe Brother Griffin will talk about it in class today. :)

3 Nephi 21:8: I find it interesting the the words "see" and "consider" are both used here.  I think this implies that we need to not only have open eyes (see), but open minds and hearts, too (consider.)

3 Nephi 21:17-18: "thou shalt no more worship the works of they hands; and I will pluck up thy groves out of the midst of thee"  Confused at this usage of groves, I went to the cross reference in the foot notes. (1 Kings 16:32-33)  This term refers to a place for a bunch of idols.  The reference says: "And he reared up an altar for Baal... and Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the Lord..."  Combining these to tidbits of knowledge, the verse in Third Nephi us telling us that worshiping the works of our own hands is a form of idolatry.  We should not put our own work and accomplishments above the Lord - ever.

3 Nephi 21:29: "for I will go before them... and I will be their rearward"  Christ is in front of us, leading, as well as behind us, supporting. I Love this. :)

Happy studying!