Stained Glass

I do stained glass. And I have to confess I become very philosophical while cutting and souldering the pieces. And when I get philosophical, I sometimes get a little cheesy (there is the warning for you).

I view working with stained glass very much like working with people. First, glass is at the same time amazingly fragile and hard at the same time. There is no question that glass is fragile. It cracks, it shatters, it explodes. But have you ever been surprised by glass. Perhaps you have dropped a dish and found out that it doesn't break. Glass is hard. In much the same way, people are amazingly fragile and hard at the same time. I am always astounded by how resilient the kids I work with are. They survive so much and still thrive. Then I have seen the same kid that has survived abuse and practical torture, break down by a slight from a friend. Glass is strong and difficult to break (and work with), but score the glass and watch the crack grow.

Second, there are many different types of glass. Even at a limited shop such as Hobby Lobby, you can find many different varieties. You can get transparent, opaque, translucent, pearlized, waterglass, baroque... Just like people. They are so varied. Some are easier to work with then others, some are more beautiful than others, some are intracate and complicated, some are simple. And don't fool yourself that what you see is what you get. Even though transparents let more light through the glass, they have a tendency to distort whatever image is behind it. People also have a tendency to seem transparent, but distort what you see. Others are more opaque. They don't want to let anyone in.

Third, you have to make pieces and put them together to make a beautiful creation. Life hurts. Just as the craftsman cuts the glass to shape the pieces to fit his plan, life has a tendency to cut us, to shape together the different pieces needed for the final product. Then the glass has to be souldered together. Another painful process, using a hot iron to melt the soulder into place. Sometimes we have to go through a painful time, maybe not even understanding what is going on, but afterwards, it just fits, it just makes since.

Forth, the finished product has to be clean and displayed in the best place for that piece. People shine better when they are where they fit. You cannot force a large stained glass in the back of a closet and expect it to look its best. Also you have to give attention to what its characteristics are and where it would look best. Sometimes I make a stained glass with a place in mind and other times I have done a stained glass and would have to wait to hang it when I know I have the right place for it. Either way, the key is that it fits in that place. People too have to find their right place to really be at their best. This means that the person has to know themselves well before making big placement decisions: career, spouse, etc.