Lanta Davis
@lantadavis.bsky.social
Author: #BecomingbyBeholding
Reader. Professor. Part-time van dweller.
Asking life's big questions at the John Wesley Honors College.
Reader. Professor. Part-time van dweller.
Asking life's big questions at the John Wesley Honors College.
To train their attention and awaken a sense of wonder, I invite students to draw three flowers.
They might not always be artistically perfect, but they almost always make me smile.
They might not always be artistically perfect, but they almost always make me smile.
November 10, 2025 at 10:33 PM
To train their attention and awaken a sense of wonder, I invite students to draw three flowers.
They might not always be artistically perfect, but they almost always make me smile.
They might not always be artistically perfect, but they almost always make me smile.
The chapel you visited is stunning. I had no idea there were more than two such things in the world until I wrote that article and realized they were actually quite common.
I also visited a crypt this past summer with hauntingly beautiful frescoes you might enjoy.
I also visited a crypt this past summer with hauntingly beautiful frescoes you might enjoy.
October 28, 2025 at 10:22 PM
The chapel you visited is stunning. I had no idea there were more than two such things in the world until I wrote that article and realized they were actually quite common.
I also visited a crypt this past summer with hauntingly beautiful frescoes you might enjoy.
I also visited a crypt this past summer with hauntingly beautiful frescoes you might enjoy.
This mandala is made completely from sand. Tibetan Buddhist monks painstakingly created it over several weeks.
Since part of the point of mandalas is their transience, it's rare to see one. Monks usually brush up the sand, put it in a jar, and disperse it.
Since part of the point of mandalas is their transience, it's rare to see one. Monks usually brush up the sand, put it in a jar, and disperse it.
October 21, 2025 at 8:38 PM
This mandala is made completely from sand. Tibetan Buddhist monks painstakingly created it over several weeks.
Since part of the point of mandalas is their transience, it's rare to see one. Monks usually brush up the sand, put it in a jar, and disperse it.
Since part of the point of mandalas is their transience, it's rare to see one. Monks usually brush up the sand, put it in a jar, and disperse it.
Just finished my weekend reading of Athanasius's Life of Antony and Jerome's Life of Paul the Hermit.
There were demons, centaurs, satyrs, a raven that delivers daily bread, and lions that help dig a grave.
Exactly the kind of wild, weird ride I love.
There were demons, centaurs, satyrs, a raven that delivers daily bread, and lions that help dig a grave.
Exactly the kind of wild, weird ride I love.
October 19, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Just finished my weekend reading of Athanasius's Life of Antony and Jerome's Life of Paul the Hermit.
There were demons, centaurs, satyrs, a raven that delivers daily bread, and lions that help dig a grave.
Exactly the kind of wild, weird ride I love.
There were demons, centaurs, satyrs, a raven that delivers daily bread, and lions that help dig a grave.
Exactly the kind of wild, weird ride I love.
The first time we met my baby bro.
So why am I making that face?
My angelic-looking brother is stepping on my foot.
So why am I making that face?
My angelic-looking brother is stepping on my foot.
June 25, 2025 at 4:04 PM
The first time we met my baby bro.
So why am I making that face?
My angelic-looking brother is stepping on my foot.
So why am I making that face?
My angelic-looking brother is stepping on my foot.
3 years ago, I learned to drive my dad's semi truck, which was so big and hard to drive, he nicknamed it the Beast.
I wrote my book in the mornings, then hauled grain in the afternoons.
My dad now has a proper hired man, who transformed the Beast into a Beauty.
I wrote my book in the mornings, then hauled grain in the afternoons.
My dad now has a proper hired man, who transformed the Beast into a Beauty.
June 20, 2025 at 6:04 PM
3 years ago, I learned to drive my dad's semi truck, which was so big and hard to drive, he nicknamed it the Beast.
I wrote my book in the mornings, then hauled grain in the afternoons.
My dad now has a proper hired man, who transformed the Beast into a Beauty.
I wrote my book in the mornings, then hauled grain in the afternoons.
My dad now has a proper hired man, who transformed the Beast into a Beauty.
After roaming around Ireland and England looking at Harry Clarke stained glass, I'm so grateful for the journey but a little sad that I've now seen the last one on my list.
June 10, 2025 at 4:24 PM
After roaming around Ireland and England looking at Harry Clarke stained glass, I'm so grateful for the journey but a little sad that I've now seen the last one on my list.
I got to play with a hawk today.
His name is Pierce. And I think I'm in love.
His name is Pierce. And I think I'm in love.
June 3, 2025 at 5:57 PM
I got to play with a hawk today.
His name is Pierce. And I think I'm in love.
His name is Pierce. And I think I'm in love.
This made me laugh out loud in the art museum:
Titled "Reader of Dostoevsky"
Titled "Reader of Dostoevsky"
May 28, 2025 at 5:09 PM
This made me laugh out loud in the art museum:
Titled "Reader of Dostoevsky"
Titled "Reader of Dostoevsky"
Maybe one of the strangest sacred artworks I've seen:
This bearded woman is Wigelfortis, a folk saint who was miraculously given a beard to avoid marriage. But then her father had her crucified anyway.
This bearded woman is Wigelfortis, a folk saint who was miraculously given a beard to avoid marriage. But then her father had her crucified anyway.
May 27, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Maybe one of the strangest sacred artworks I've seen:
This bearded woman is Wigelfortis, a folk saint who was miraculously given a beard to avoid marriage. But then her father had her crucified anyway.
This bearded woman is Wigelfortis, a folk saint who was miraculously given a beard to avoid marriage. But then her father had her crucified anyway.
When you're too cheap to take a taxi, sometimes you find yourself meandering through the woods that inspired Pooh's Hundred Acre Wood.
May 21, 2025 at 6:40 PM
When you're too cheap to take a taxi, sometimes you find yourself meandering through the woods that inspired Pooh's Hundred Acre Wood.
Thinking of making this my teaching mug.
May 20, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Thinking of making this my teaching mug.
Ely Cathedral's octagonal ceiling.
Eight is the number for baptisms, symbolizing Easter and the new creation.
Eight is the number for baptisms, symbolizing Easter and the new creation.
May 17, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Ely Cathedral's octagonal ceiling.
Eight is the number for baptisms, symbolizing Easter and the new creation.
Eight is the number for baptisms, symbolizing Easter and the new creation.
A prayer nut, intricately carved from boxwood.
The level of detail on these Dutch devotional objects is astonishing.
The level of detail on these Dutch devotional objects is astonishing.
May 16, 2025 at 11:07 AM
A prayer nut, intricately carved from boxwood.
The level of detail on these Dutch devotional objects is astonishing.
The level of detail on these Dutch devotional objects is astonishing.
After reading 20(!) Agatha Christie novels this spring, I was stoked to watch her Mousetrap, the longest-running play in the world.
May 15, 2025 at 9:56 PM
After reading 20(!) Agatha Christie novels this spring, I was stoked to watch her Mousetrap, the longest-running play in the world.
Titian's Allegory of Prudence, one of my favorite depictions of practical wisdom.
The Latin inscription above the faces isn't clear in my photo, but it says, "Learning from Yesterday, Today acts prudently lest by his action he spoils Tomorrow."
The Latin inscription above the faces isn't clear in my photo, but it says, "Learning from Yesterday, Today acts prudently lest by his action he spoils Tomorrow."
May 14, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Titian's Allegory of Prudence, one of my favorite depictions of practical wisdom.
The Latin inscription above the faces isn't clear in my photo, but it says, "Learning from Yesterday, Today acts prudently lest by his action he spoils Tomorrow."
The Latin inscription above the faces isn't clear in my photo, but it says, "Learning from Yesterday, Today acts prudently lest by his action he spoils Tomorrow."
These ivory panels are one of the earliest depictions of Christ's death and resurrection (early 5th c).
May 13, 2025 at 9:40 AM
These ivory panels are one of the earliest depictions of Christ's death and resurrection (early 5th c).
This 1700-year-old Roman cup, called the Lycurgus Cup, glows red with liquid.
It's such a sophisticated technique they're still not 100% sure how to recreate such a cup today.
It's such a sophisticated technique they're still not 100% sure how to recreate such a cup today.
May 13, 2025 at 9:39 AM
This 1700-year-old Roman cup, called the Lycurgus Cup, glows red with liquid.
It's such a sophisticated technique they're still not 100% sure how to recreate such a cup today.
It's such a sophisticated technique they're still not 100% sure how to recreate such a cup today.
A beautiful Ethiopian illustration, based on the icon at Santa Maria Maggiore that Pope Francis chose to be buried nearby.
May 10, 2025 at 1:44 PM
A beautiful Ethiopian illustration, based on the icon at Santa Maria Maggiore that Pope Francis chose to be buried nearby.
Back in Belfast and revisiting Queen's. Still can't believe I got to teach in this gorgeous place for six months.
May 9, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Back in Belfast and revisiting Queen's. Still can't believe I got to teach in this gorgeous place for six months.
In Clarke's Mother of Sorrows stained glass, Mary holds Jesus on the cross. Saint Catherine and Francis hover on the side of the cross.
May 9, 2025 at 10:51 AM
In Clarke's Mother of Sorrows stained glass, Mary holds Jesus on the cross. Saint Catherine and Francis hover on the side of the cross.
