You know card houses? Kids build them out of playing cards. It's a challenging task to build a card house because everything has to be balanced in order for the house to sustain itself. The cards themselves are pretty darn strong. It's not easy to randomly rip cards (though you can do it and you can certainly cut the cards with a scissors).
Building a card house on a slippery surface is not easy. Most of the time it works better if you have something with which to ground the house (a rug, a placemat, a towel, or tablecloth - anything with some texture). When you start to construct the walls, you have to balance the cards against each other.
You can spread out and/or you can build up. Building up is the more exciting approach but it is also the more demanding approach. Building any card house takes patience. Building a multi layered card house takes patience and calmness. But most of all it takes determination and tenacity.
The thing is that each card plays a part in the house and, even though each card is strong, and even though the house may be build on a non slippery surface, it is a fragile creation. It can easily crumble. Brush your fingertip past it and it collapses. The cards are still there. The cards are each individually strong. But the house is in shambles. Then you have to decide if you want to rebuild the house or put the cards away.
You know card houses? Kids build them out of playing cards. It's a challenging task to build a card house because everything has to be balanced in order for the house to sustain itself. The cards themselves are pretty darn strong. It's not easy to randomly rip cards (though you can do it and you can certainly cut the cards with a scissors). 
I suppose everything we experience in this life can be viewed as a house of cards because whatever comes into Being eventually passes away. But there is great value in the forms that we create in that they are the tools of an evolving consciousness. And because of their abiding usefulness, some of these forms have an enduring quality about them. But even that they fall down or eventually collapse isn't necessarily tragic either. They give way to new and more interesting forms. I bet you as a creative artist can appreciate that!
ReplyDeleteI can appreciate that, for sure. I can also appreciate that it is our choice to create something new or to leave well enough alone. :)
Deletexoxooxox
If I can't put a sixteen penny nail into it, I stay away. Your point is well-taken, though. Well-played!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mark! But you were the one who built the most card houses with me! You taught me how to do that!
Deletexoxoxooxox
Very interesting post.
ReplyDeleteI am here via my friends post at a to z
good to be here. will come again to read more
keep inform
Best
phil
Welcome! Come back anytime!
DeleteSome days I sense the card-house nature of life more than other days. One can't tell from appearances just how close another person may be to having the house of cards collapse. The uncertainty of life can be looked at as a great equalizer, I guess.
ReplyDeleteAgreed, Melanie - Card houses are deceptive structures. The photo makes it look easy - just stack those cards - but they don't always want to stack and they tumble so easily. And all you have to do is blow on it and kaboom! Though it is usually a silent crash - and the frustration is real.
DeleteLove your picture at the top of the blog! My life is most certainly a house of cards these days, and any moment it will topple. I've heaped too much on my plate, and too much else has been heaped on against my will. Yikes!
ReplyDeleteShannon at The Warrior Muse
Thanks, Shannon. I took the photo at a nearby park - the crazy thing is that you can actually see me taking the photo in the reflection - okay, well you have to use your imagination.....
DeleteI certainly get the whole "too much on the plate" thing - the story of my life!