Life Design
Design signals intent.
That's what McDonough & Braungart, think when they consider the design of a cold, angular, grey place like Auschwitz — where the intent was death.
Conversely, they want to design for life.
A chemist and an architect, their company developed the first green roof for a building in Chicago. They created a factory with a tree-lined footpath down its inner middle. They set out to design an upholstery so safe you can tear it off your couch and put it in your compost, when you’re ready for a new look.
Design signals intent.
How have I designed my life? And you… yours?
For thoughts about a surprising design on God’s part, visit the post “Who Knew?”on my other blog.
Photo by Stefani M. Rossi Used with permission.
NEW LINKS to this post:
Charity's Sabbath Design
The Donkey, the Horse & Old MacDonald
posted by L.L. Barkat at 7:31 PM
12 Comments:
L.L., Wow, interesting about the leaf. Very good thought, and one I must ponder. And wonderful photo.
I think somehow our lives ought to be intentionally moving towards what we believe is our purpose, and what is involved in that purpose, in Christ. And this certainly involves Life! As in the Trinity, and in God's works in the world.
And though with similar characteristics, each design should be unique!
A person could do soooo much with that, huh? I think I would like to grab a note pad and write, "Design Signals Intent," and spend a weekend in silence, making observations and interpretations. Great fun!
Well, I interviewed for a job at Hope College teaching Economics.
I hope you passed along some of the ideas at my blog the Anti-manichaeist that you expressed appreciation for in the past.
dlw
Design Signals Intent.
The King of Heaven takes on flesh and is born in a stable.
Ted... yes, and to think I had to wait my whole life until a child pointed it out to me! I agree, too, that we must move towards life. Interesting how people have widely different opinions on what that means.
Craver... In fact, I thought it would make a good topic to start my next book with (oh, you know us writers, we're always thinking "book," even when we have no time to write!!)
Dlw... did you get the job?
Erin... hmmm... that would make a good talk. (I've got "talk" on the brain right now, because I just gave one today!) Still, I'd love to hear Your Thoughts on the intent that's inherent in that design!
Design may signal intent, but sometimes intent can get derailed by other people's design.
BTW, your daughters may enjoy the latest picture on my blog.
Geez magazine offered some great insight into spirituality and architecture in issue #3.
In the intro, David Orr wrote, "The built environment in which we spend over 90 percent of our lives is at least as powerful in shaping our ideas and views of the world as anything... Architecture certainly influences what we pay attention to and what can can pay attention to."
All of this reminds me to keep setting goals and taking my life seriously. Because if I don't even try to design my life, it will get designed by the world around me.
Design signals intent. It struck me that I should think about that in terms of how God designed me and how that signals His intent for my life.
I'm looking forward to pondering that thought.
Design signals intent:
"And God said, 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.'"
Now that is definitely something to meditate on! Thanks, LL.
Oh, and I commented on you wanting January back at A Christian Worldview of Fiction. ;-) Thanks for stopping by there.
Becky
I've been musing along the lines of One More Writer about the Divine design intent for my life. What an exhilarating thought! I was made for a purpose?! Me?! Brings to mind the verse about "good deeds planned in advance" for us to do. But I've also been pondering the whole Divine design in relation to eternity. Was I made to be a writer (or scrapbooker or nurturer or...) in eternity? Is there a connection between our earthly purpose & our eternal purpose?
I'm having trouble expressing a thought here -- hope it comes out ok: if design signals intent, where does that put the designer of all the stuff in the world that is used for something other than it's original intent? Is it "creativity" to use something for another purpose, or is it sacrilege?
(I'm still not sure that came out right, but what do you all think?)
ExS... oh, how incredibly true! So, we live in community, and our decisions go beyond ourselves, as do others' decisions go beyond themselves.
Mark... I suppose one cannot avoid being somewhat molded by the world around... still, I like your stubborn resistance through your own goals, dreams, prayers.
OMWriter... yes, something to truly ponder... it is good to accept or explore who we have been and are becoming in His hands.
Becky... so... that is a tall order... he wanted us to be like Him.
Amusing Mom... Mako Fujimura once spoke at our church on this very thought... that perhaps what we create or are gifted to create follows us into eternity. He looked at 1 Cor 3.
Charity... wow... that's a deep question. I guess at times it could be either, depending on who is doing the "re-purposing" and why.
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