Gorgeous sunset

Toronto Potters' Fall Show

This year the Toronto Potters had their show at a new location.in the Leaside Memorial Gardens. When we arrived, I thought we may be at the wrong place as kids with hockey gear on were leaving and entering the building, but then we located the exhibition room. The new venue was brighter, larger allowing the ceramic artists display their goods in a more organized way with easier access for buyers to the ceramics.

A lot of beautiful pots, plates, mugs, and non-functional pieces were on display. It was well worth the time to visit even if we ended up not buying anything.

Toronto International Antiquarian Book Fair

First time this year I was able to attend the Toronto International Antiquarian Book Fair. By funny coincidence I won a pair of tickets in the contest hosted by AbeBooks in which I had to guess correctly which one of four authors was not born in Toronto. So, this was definitely an experience I hope to repeat again. The feeling of walking among, touching and reading these wonderful antique volumes (even if I did not have funds to purchase some of the most beautiful old books ever) is one of a kind. Handling an early copy of Ovid's Metamorphoses or a 13th century book of hours, or a first edition of Bram Stoker's Dracula are reasons enough to look forward to the next such event. Also I was able to talk to some of the experts on book preservation and repair and received great advise.

The story of the other wise man by Henry van Dyke

Some months ago I happened to be a short drive north of Toronto and on a whim decided to enter a thrift store there. Among the many usual worn-n-torn books there I found a handful of interesting ones from the late 19th to the early 20th century. This book was one of them.

We have been brought up with the Bible story of the Three Wise Men (or Magi) of the East, how they traveled from far-away countries to search for and offer their gifts to the new-born King at the manger-cradle in Bethlehem. But I have never before heard the wonderful story of the Other Wise Man, the fourth one from the order, who also saw the star in its rising, and set out to follow it. He, however, did not arrive with his brethren to greet the baby Jesus. This book provides a beautiful, engaging, thought- and emotion-provoking account of Artaban's journey from his land of the Magi to Bethlehem, then to Egypt, then back to Jerusalem.

He meets many a hardship on his journey, but the real challenges are those of decision. Decision between his unwavering commitment to find the King and his obligations as a caring, loving human being. While on his search for the King, he is presented with three major challenges, temptations if you will. In each he has to choose between helping a fellow suffering human being at the cost of always having to give up a portion of what he was to offer as gifts to Jesus. He chooses humanity. Compassion always wins over his determination to offer the rich gifts to the King.

Every step of his journey is bringing him closer to finally meeting the King while driving him into desperation that he will have nothing to offer as gift to Him.

As I would like you to read the story, I will not ruin it for you. Let's just say, the book teaches us about the paradox of having to give up all we want in order to gain what we truly need.

Happy Halloween!

In the spirit of Halloween, here is a picture I made in the Royal Ontario Museum's dinosaur exhibit.