Reading Between the Lines – Rumi
“Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.”
― Rumi
The quote by the 13th-century Persian poet Rumi is a profound meditation on the nature of love and the human condition. It suggests that the key to experiencing love lies not in pursuing it externally, but rather in confronting and dismantling the internal obstacles that prevent us from embracing it fully.
Rumi was a Sufi mystic whose writings often explored themes of love, spirituality, and the search for unity with the divine. In this quote, he challenges the notion that love is something to be sought or attained from outside oneself. Instead, he posits that love is an innate human capacity, a fundamental aspect of our being that is always present within us.
Art Uncovered: ‘At Eternity’s Gate’ by Vincent van Gogh
Vincent van Gogh’s painting “At Eternity’s Gate”, also known as “Sorrowing Old Man”, was completed in 1890 just weeks before his tragic death. The work is often seen as a meditation on the artist’s own struggles with mental illness, poverty and feelings of failure at the end of his life.
The painting depicts a solitary figure, head bowed and face buried in his hands, sitting in a simple wooden chair. The man’s posture exudes despair and exhaustion. His clothes are plain and worn, suggesting a life of hardship. The background is empty and undefined, further emphasizing the figure’s isolation and disconnection from the world around him.
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16 Thoughts That Will Change the Way You See the World
Photo of the Day
Many Chinese medical tourists who go to South Korea for inexpensive and high quality plastic surgery have difficulty re-entering China due to their passports photos not matching their new face post op.
According to Korean sites, some Korean hospitals are now issuing a “plastic surgery certificate” at the request of overseas visitors. Customs officials, of course, are strict about making sure people match the mugs in their passports. These certificates can supposedly help make clearing immigration go smoother so officials don’t have to call hospitals to confirm procedures.
Art Uncovered – ‘The Taking of Christ’ by Caravaggio
Caravaggio’s “The Taking of Christ” stands as one of the most powerful and intense depictions of betrayal and human emotion in Western art. Painted in 1602 for the Roman nobleman Ciriaco Mattei, this masterpiece captures the moment of Judas Iscariot’s treachery as he betrays Jesus with a kiss. Through dramatic lighting, emotional depth, and intricate composition, Caravaggio transforms this biblical scene into a visceral exploration of human frailty and divine sacrifice.
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Trivia Question of the Day
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The Reaction GIFs Have Returned!
When my friend responds “If by pyramid scheme you mean legitimately structured multi-level marketing company, then yes, I joined”
Photo of the Day
A literacy test given to black voters in the 1960s
In the 1960s, many Southern states in the United States employed literacy tests as a means to disenfranchise black voters. These tests were designed to be intentionally difficult and subjective, with the goal of preventing African Americans from exercising their right to vote. The tests were often administered in a discriminatory manner, with white voters being given easier versions or being exempt altogether.
There Are Some Things You Just Can’t Argue With
Trivia Question of the Day
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Photo of the Day
“Knocker-Uppers” – People who had the job of waking up workers during the Industrial Revolution, often by shooting dry peas from a pea shooter at their windows.
The role of the knocker-upper, a vital figure in British industrial towns, highlights the pre-digital solutions to everyday challenges before the widespread adoption of alarm clocks. These individuals were tasked with ensuring workers woke up in time for their shifts, particularly in northern mill towns and areas like London’s docks, where irregular hours were the norm due to fluctuating tides. Using a variety of tools from long sticks to pea shooters, knocker-uppers would tap on windows, efficiently rousing only those who paid for their services without disturbing others.