August 2

We think we're pretty clever sometimes. The human mind does indeed cook up scores of interesting ideas and inventions, but I think when it comes down to the brass tacks of it all, virtually everything is inspired by something else that was directly created by God.

That notion came to me as I passed by this palm tree this afternoon. I was impressed by its intricate patterning and noted the similarities between it and hand-woven baskets. The baskets are the human-created version of God's original -- the tree. Kind of like this world is something of an out-of-focus version of what Heaven is like.

Random thoughts, I know, but certainly ideas to ponder.