Inspired by: Vertical and horizontal

As I pondered things great and small this morning, I came to realize in more concrete terms than before that I am keenly interested in the vertical and the horizontal.

It seems to me an interest in the horizontal stems from my roots, my formative years, living on the prairie. Space is abundant and the horizon easily visible across the plains. And I enjoyed this space.

An interest in the vertical is less obvious to me. It could very well be a compliment to the horizontal. That is, perhaps my visually horizontal roots caused me to take note of the vertical whenever I came across it. Vertically visual elements on the plains can be scarce. When you see the broad and rolling horizon punctuated with a water tower, a grain elevator or a tall cottonwood it leaves an impression.

The only other reason I can think of for my interest in the vertical is the idea of talking to God. Theologically speaking, God is omnipresent. He’s everywhere all of the time, not just up. But the idea of Heaven and God therein being “up” (or outwards from the Earth) is ubiquitous in our culture. Since a lot of my in the past strove to elaborate on difficult character qualities of God (and a lot of it was vertical in orientation and composition), this is a possibility as well.

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