Recently, my sister and I flew to Phoenix to see an installation called Chihuly in the Desert. Chihuly is a blown glass artist who does massive embedded installations all over the world. Chihuly in the Desert had two locations: the Desert Botanical Gardens and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Talesin West.
Both exhibits were well done. There was, however, a marked difference in how they were done. The installation at Talesin West was very much an add-on to the house and grounds themselves. The audio tour emphasized Wright’s approach to architecture and design and how the Chihuly pieces mirrored or complimented what was already there.
The Desert Botanical Garden installation was integrated and seemed to be a part of the Gardens. For me it was much more thoughtfully a true part of the Gardens as if it had always been there by some magical, miraculous growth of glass.
It’s a bit like the difference between knowing about God and knowing God. Do we “add-on” God to our lives or are we entwined with God in such a way that He is in us and we are in Him? Is there something joyous and delightful in our lives that reflects the Holy Spirit’s presence, His living in us?
Or is the Holy Spirit an accessory?
Just Sayin' 