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This weekend, my local public library is selling books (donated or former library books) for half of the typically cheap price, in its “Friends of the Library” store.  Absolutely NOT needing ANY more books, I went – of course! – in search of something new and different. How could I resist? Over the years, I’ve gotten in the habit of occasionally gathering and reading books that are beyond my normal fields of interest – architecture, furniture making, carpentry, botany, Jungian psychology (finished earlier today), etc. – just for the sake of stretching my mind.

Today I purchased (for $.75!) a book called Reflex, A Vik Muniz Primer, by Vik Muniz. Muniz is a Brazilian-born New Yorker, a visual artist, photographer, and writer, whom I’ve never heard of, just a few years older than me. As far as I can tell, the book is his biography and artistic journey, and a collection of his visual works.

Will the book turn me into a Vik Muniz fan? Maybe. Will I be purchasing Vik Muniz artwork for my home or office? Doubtful. Will the book provide inspiration for a blog (like this one) or a sermon? Possibly. Will reading it be a waste of time? Probably not.

I suspect Reflex will expand my knowledge of modern art, my understanding of the inner-workings of an artist, and who knows what else.

Like most people, I suspect, I live within a “comfortable environment of familiarity.” My “comfortable environment of familiarity” may be different than your “comfortable environment of familiarity.” Mine might be more-or-less expansive than yours. Mine might be more-or-less orderly than yours. Mine might be more-or-less interesting than yours. Mine might be more-or-less eclectic than yours. Mine might have a few more plants, a few more religious books, a few more strange collections, a few more unfinished projects than yours.

Regardless, you have yours and I have mine, and ours may or may not overlap or intersect. My “comfortable environment of familiarity” includes the foods I typically eat, my people, my workplace, my preferred news source, my social media friends and followers, my stuff, my religious affiliation, the places I typically go, the places I like to visit, the stuff I like to do, the stuff that entertains me, etc. Like I said, you have yours and I have mine. I like mine, and you probably like yours.

Through the years, my “comfortable environment of familiarity” has gradually shrunk. I’m no longer in school, forced to learn required topics. I’m not as adventurous as I once was. I don’t travel as extensively as I once did. I’ve had to drop a few of my cherished hobbies. As an “empty nester,” we no longer have our children’s peers passing through our home. Old habits, of all kinds, are fairly entrenched.

 I’ve heard it said that we all exist within self-confirming “echo chambers” of our own making – surrounded by family and friends, social media influencers, authors, and news sources who share and confirm our values, lifestyles, preferences and influences, speak our language and share our accent. I’m sure that’s true.

I like my “comfortable environment of familiarity.” If I didn’t, I could certainly change it. I suspect you like yours too.

I just don’t want it to become TOO small, or TOO narrow. So, I’m inviting Vik Muniz – whoever he is – into my “comfortable environment of familiarity” to add his artistic voice and Brazilian accent, to – at least temporarily – add his art, to teach me a new vocabulary and artist’s perspective. Will it change my life? Certainly – at least while I’m reading the book, or maybe longer.

So, “Welcome, Vik Muniz. It’s nice to meet you. I look forward to getting to know you.”

What expands your “comfortable environment of familiarity”? Any suggestions for expanding mine?

BTW – if you are reading this – you must be one of the people in my “comfortable environment of familiarity.” I’m glad you are!