Something Magical Is Going to Happen!
When my son was 3 years old, I read something that suggested starting each day with the thought: “Something magical is going to happen!” I shared this idea with him, but because he was only 3, it was a tricky concept for him to grasp. Naturally, he peppered me with questions: “When is it going to happen? What is it? Will I know when it happens? Will it happen to me? Or to you? Or to both of us? Why is it going to happen?” We still laugh about this today. He was so full of curiosity but also had that 3-year-old’s deep need for certainty.
This concept often comes to mind when I’m creating a stained glass window. One of the best approaches a client can take during the process is to let go of rigid expectations and embrace a sense of wonder.
When I recently installed a set of arched stained glass windows for a client in Boone, his initial reaction was joy—but also a touch of unease. He had envisioned the sky differently than how I had created it. We had a thoughtful conversation about it, and he decided to sit with his feelings for a few days to see if they changed.
A few days later, after hosting his family for Thanksgiving in their lovely home, I received an email from him. He shared how much they all loved the windows and described them as a beautiful addition to their space. He said he wished he hadn’t said anything and shared a kind testimonial. For me, though, it was a meaningful opportunity to explore his expectations and reflect on how art evokes different perspectives. My goal in creating custom artwork is always to craft something that is better than what my clients had imagined.
The wonder of stained glass lies in its ability to transform as light streams through it. Holding space for that transformation to unfold—that’s when something truly magical happens.