Thrift store Treasures

I love finding treasures in thrift stores - especially art books that nobody else on the planet is interested in.

My latest find is a beautifully produced series of volumes devoted to Gothic and Baroque Choir Stalls in the Netherlands.

Now you, dear reader, probably understand why other thrift store shoppers weren’t all over these books from the late 1940s. Granted, not a lot of humans have ‘learn more about Gothic and Baroque Choir Stalls’ high on their wish list.

But they are totally missing out.

These books are astonishing. The wood carvings depicted are exquisite.

And that's not all - it’s the photography that makes these volumes a true treasure.

The photographer, Martien Coppens has truly SEEN these works and manages to evoke all the emotions that the carvers painstakingly put into them.

His pictures incredible.

The lighting is perfect.

The framing is just right.

He shows all the detail of the material and still draws us into the emotion of the stories.

His work is truly moving - it shows incredible devotion.

And I don’t mean in the religious sense - though that, of course, is there too.

I’m more interested in his devotion to his craft.

In doing a thing well, devoting yourself to it, mastering it.

It’s such an underrated idea these days.

But so valuable.

If you find something you want to devote yourself to you won’t have to motivate yourself, find your why, be anxious about recognition or accolades.

There won't be any second guessing, dillydallying or distraction.

When you're devoted to something you are inherently driven to do it, and to do it well. Because the reward is in the doing. Which is such a joy.

To me, devotion is a form of love in action. It’s applied joy.

Whether it’s the love of the carver for the wood, the love of the photographer for the light, or the love of the baker for the perfect bread doesn’t matter: it’s one of the most beautiful things in the world.

So if you haven’t already, find something you want to devote yourself to. And if you have, great - share in the comments what it is so that we can share in your joy.