Today is G.K. Chesterton's birthday. What a gift to the world! Chesterton was born on this date in 1874. In honor of his birthday, and in order to prepare for this year's Chesterton Conference, I've been reading Tremendous Trifles. A thoroughly enjoyable collection of 39 essays on an arresting array of common subjects. So far the one that has reached out and really grabbed me is The Twelve Men. Specifically where Chesterton writes: "Now, one of these four or five paradoxes which should be taught to every infant prattling at his mother's knee is the following: That the more a man looks at a thing, the less he can see it...." I experienced that when I was working and living in Tucson, Arizona several years ago. I was renting a room in a house which, from the front steps, had a gorgeous view of the Catalina Mountains. For the first couple of months I really looked at the mountains each morning as came out of the house to drive to work. The view was inspiring. Eventually, however, I didn't see the mountains. They were, of course, still there, but not for me. After a year or so, as my work in Tucson was drawing to a close and I was leaving the house for the last time, I looked up, and for the first time in over a year, saw the mountains again. And I remember thinking, how could I have not seen this beautiful sight each and every day? Chesterton, of course, has the answer, or at least that's what I think he means: "That the more a man looks at a thing, the less he can see it..."
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