Comfort Was His Middle Name

Louis Comfort Tiffany (February 18, 1848 – January 17, 1933) was an American artist and designer who worked in the decorative arts and is best known for his work in stained glass.

I'll admit to having a great fondness for the ethereal glow of sunlight beaming through a stained glass window. These often-times exquisite windows are usually hard to photograph and the camera rarely sees or captures their full glory.

I greatly admire Tiffany's Tree of Life and The New Creation as well as his Wisteria series.

An example of the quiet radiance and splendor of his work has sat in my home office for years giving me great comfort in hard times.

For in my office sits a small reproduction of a member of his Autumn Landscape series - the original of which is displayed in New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art.

This little reproduction reminds me the quiet moments I've shared out in the park with the babbling stream and the unfrightened deer, moments that have both restored and nourished me in times of need. It also reminds me vividly of a day that took place twenty years ago today.


This treasured item was given to me near the tail-end of the "Bubba" saga.

Those of you that have read and remember the allegorical story of "Bubba" know that I experienced a very difficult time that started a few days before Christmas twenty three years ago. A time that I've never spoken directly of... neither of the cause of the trouble, nor of what it cost me - materially, physically, mentally, and spiritually. It took me several long and bleak years to overcome the hatred and loathing of certain people and of myself that filled me that awful holiday season.

It was cold sunny winter weekend morning, three years after that, when someone very dear to me - someone that stood by me through thick and thin - knocked quietly on my half shut door and brought to me a little brown box wrapped in glossy red poinsettia paper. They said nothing, but smiled softly at me - their bright eyes saying, "Merry Christmas - love surrounds you today."

I unwrapped the box while they stood there watching my abused and beat up, trembling hands struggle with the ribbon and the scotch tape. The box had been opened and simply tucked back together - when I saw that... and realized the love behind that simple gesture - that thoughtful preparation, I shivered, not from the cold but from the spreading warmth within me. Not knowing what this box would contain, I opened it gently and gasped out loud when I held it up and saw it for the first time.


That moment is seared in my memory - and I will never forget the soft smile - the soft look - the pre-opened box - and the glory of the sun streaming through this window and into the very depths of my being.

This year, while I struggle with things at work business-wise, I know I am most fortunate - for each day it is with comfort I look around at my world and remember that through thick and thin - love surrounds me.