New Places, New Chances

Going to a new place is a new experience and within that experience God can be seen.  It is the opportunity for many things to happen; bring a new dynamic, thought, perspective, physical benefit, better emotions, etc.

If you are having a bad day - go somewhere, get some fresh air and a walk might just change your mood. You might meet someone, find a new store, enjoy nature. Possibility.

And being the one to take another out of where they are is a beautiful thing. Both on a small or big scale - to the store, on a trip, to a new place, to a place where they can look down to see where they are, escape, explore, find. Most people move through the day and don't not think or care to see the possible but know changes (conscious or not) happen in the act of movement to a new place.

This can be physically. Or in the mind - through art, film, discussion.
This post is inspired by documentary Waste Land. Artist Vik Muniz goes to the worlds largest landfill on a journey to be inspired for an art project. What he finds differs from what he expected - the a land-city of low-lifes is actually filled with 3k smiling, hard working, pickers.  Its a way to make money but many have pride as they recycle to make our world a better place.
Using garbage the artist wanted create art, to transport people into this place, and use the money raised to help get the "pickers" to "get out" of the place; bettering conditions, opportunities, etc.

I really like how Vik Muniz talked about art - standing close to it and seeing the material vs backing away to see the image. Both experiences. With this project, he is making beautiful portraits on a large scale with garbage. Its says so much - about the location, the items, the person. Deep. Multi dimension. I love art. The moment something becomes something else - magic.

In the film, they start to debate where of not to take individual out of Brazil to London for an art show to sell the paintings.
Will knowing what is out there drive them to think differently and take action to get whatever it is that they want? Or will the experience haunt them?  Does the experience stand on its own for what it is?
They know they will go back.  Realisations are powerful and the stories play out as such. "I'd rather want everything and have nothing than have everything and want nothing. Because at least when you want something your life has a meaning, it's worthwhile."



To go to a new place or to lead someone to a new place - both different, both fulfilling.
Your personal experience changes you, and to lead people can be even more fulfilling. It is like when one volunteers, you usually get just as much out if then the experience than the cause in which you are volunteering for.

And see for yoga - I think it is both physically a new place and a mental new place.

The moral of tonights post - go to new places, open your eyes beyond the physcial places you go, take others to new experiences. Challenge your mind and others - in this act God will be seen.