Monday, April 30, 2007

The first step...

Compulsive Writer says confession is good for the soul. Okay, here goes:

Hi, my name is wendy and I don't want to hang the big picture of Christ right smack in the middle of the living room wall.

What does it mean. Does it signify a reluctance to put Him at the center of my life? Am I on the slippery slope? Have I stepped off the straight and narrow? Lost hold of the iron rod?

I'm slow about hanging pictures, I admit. We have lived here for 4 months now, and I am just barely getting everything put together. Nathan was ready to hang pictures before the movers were finished unpacking the truck. But I needed a rug. And curtains. And the computer sitting on something other than a cardboard box before I could imagine pictures on the walls.

Now that I've finally got the couch where it belongs, the piano set right where it fits, and a clean rug tying it all together, I'm feeling a bit guilty about not putting the print of Christ over the piano. It's not that I don't like the picture. It's actually a very nice one, in a lovely frame, but I just don't want it to take over the living room.

I'm not sure if writing this out is making me feel better, but sitting here at the computer has given me a new view of the room. Hold on.

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Okay, I hung up the picture near the front door. It looks nice, and not hidden in the corner, like I was considering. And I still have the wall above the piano and the wall above the couch for something else...6 botanical prints in 2 rows of three, or a picture of each of the kids at 3 years old, or...

Whew. Now if I could just decide what to do with the gold framed picture of the Oakland Temple....

17 comments:

TJ said...

maybe a smaller picture of Christ would be a good idea. and i'm a big fan of hanging pictures in a hallway if you have one. and if you don't like the frame, get a new one. i myself am not a fan of anything with yellow gold on it....

Deanne said...

I haven't hung anything up either, and we've been here for 10 months!!! But, we don't really have much anyway. I did buy a nice three frame set from Crate and Barrel a few months ago. Now if I can only get on the ball and get some pics of the kids to put inside.....

Amanda said...

This is really really weird Wendy. We have that exact picture that has been sitting in a box, a very large box against our railing. We got it for christmas from my sister and I have had the same reluctant feelings about hanging it up. Personally it is not my favorite Christ picture, though I do like it. I think we've settled with hanging it over the piano too. I just need to light a fire under Scott to get er done.

Super Happy Girl said...

Picture hanging always takes forever. It takes a lot of thinking and planning.

Lana said...

whew! I am glad you found a spot...I was a little worried. We live in the bible belt and many a time a friend or neighbor has walked in our house and been SHOCKED to see a picture of Christ (since we're not christian you know)
Maybe you could find a picture you like better. Although by the door sounds very nice.

Suzanne said...

I'm the same way with hanging pictures! It takes me so long to decide and sometimes I never come up with a solution that I'm happy with. I'm glad you found a spot! :)

Mary said...

Hanging pictures is tricky. Hanging pictures of Christ is even trickier - sounds like you came up with a good solution. We don't have a picture of Christ hanging up since we don't have a nice one, but we do have a few cheapy ones sitting under our bed. If I don't see them, then I don't feel guilty :)

Special K ~Toni said...

4 months and you are already hanging pictures??? You are on the ball!

wendy said...

I'm feeling such a sisterhood with all the rest of you non-picture-hanging slackers. Thanks!

I'm there for you Maria. Thanks for stoppin' by.

Unknown said...

I have no pictures of Christ hanging on my walls.

When I was a missionary we spent a considerable amount of time teaching the people in Venezuela not to worship idols, statuettes, pictures, postcards, whatever it was. I think because of that I have decided not to put some artists rendition of Christ on my walls. I have a little picture of what is supposed to be Christ at the with two women. It was giving to me by my VT's, it's on my bookshelf.

Did you know that our chapel here in Fruita has a picture of Christ hanging in it in the front? I have not seen this anywhere else. So far know one has lit candles around it or knelt down in front of it. So far.

Carrot Jello said...

I don't have any pictures of Christ, or the prophet, or temples on my walls. I just never gave it much thought. I do have two small 4x7 pictures of Christ on a table that I got out of an old Catholic sunday school stories book.

Kimberly Vanderhorst said...

I so understand you on this one. We have one big wall in our living room, and have two gorgeous botanical pictures that match our couch. I wanted my pictures there, Neil wanted the picture of Christ. Talk about an argument that's hard to win, eh? We comprimised by hanging the picture of Christ on the wall above the stairs. That way we see Him as we're leaving the house.

Jennifer B. said...

I like your blog. I have heard many good things about you and it's nice to finally visit. Imagine my surprise as I read your confession and realized that my husband and I are not the only active LDS people who feel uncomfortable putting a picture of the Savior on our wall. It has been mentioned many times in our ward and it is hard not to inwardly wince. Like Annie, it feels a little like idol-worship to me. Also,I think "non-religious" art can be very spiritual--beauty certainly feeds my spirit. Good luck finding a place for that temple pic!

Anonymous said...

Wendy, I have had the same feeling and found the same solution. I moved the picture of Christ from the living room to the front hallway where it looks really nice. Love you, mom

Anonymous said...

Sorry I reply so late to your posts - I suppose that way I'm off the radar for the other gentle readers...that's bad blogging probably huh?

Rachel and I have always had weird commitment problems with wall hangings. After 12 years in the same house, all but 3 pictures remain tilted against the walls where they should be hung. Had the baby not taken interest in those three they'd probably be on the floor too.

I like your choice of picture...The popular "Christ in the red shawl" looks a bit too much like brad pitt for me.

Pictures of temples are problematic at our house. Xochitl thinks they're all pictures of Disneyland. Appearantly being 40 min from D-land has some unforseen complications.

wendy said...

Brad Pitt and Disneyland. You are cracking me up!

Nathan just got back, and it was so fun to see pictures of everyone. Your little one is just adorable!

Anonymous said...

Could that be Evan from Modesto replying to your blog Wendy? Ev - Rachel and new little baby - sounds about right. How cool is that? Mom