One of the biggest mysteries that I've been contemplating for quite sometime is the spiritual signifance of the cube. There has to be something more to learn about this as we see this cube prominently used in at least two major world religions. The Muslim's circle Kaaba in their Holy City of Mecca; and it is Jewish custom to pray with Tefillin. It is not my goal to dive deep into the explanations of these two examples, but I did want to mention and to point them out, regardless. Though I don't see eye to eye with either of these two major faiths, I will point out that they are both Children of Abraham just as I am, so they will always have my respect and love.
To begin all of this, let's start with the basics. A cube is a solid shape with six square faces. Each square face has the same side length and thus all the faces have the same size. A cube has 12 edges and 8 vertices. Each vertex refers to a corner where three edges of a cube meet.
So just with this little bit of basic information, we can already see The Value of The Tetragrammaton encoded within the cube - the Numeric Value of The Most Sacred Name of Our LORD - ( יהוה ) equals 26. As we have already established, the cube has 6 Faces (just as six sided dice), 8 Vertices (or corners) and 12 edges.
6 + 8 + 12 = 26 = ( יהוה )
A plane figure is two-dimensional, and a solid figure is three-dimensional. Moreover a plane figure has length and width and a solid figure has length, width as well as depth. A plane figure can be drawn on a plane (ie. black board, paper etc) however, a solid figure cannot be drawn on a plane. Three lines are necessary to form a plane figure; and three dimensions of length, width and height, are necessary to form a solid. Therefore, three is the symbol of the cube, which is the simplest form of solid figure.
If we look closely at the cross, drawn as a two-dimensional image, we can see how the sides fold up once and the bottom folds up and over, making a cube. So what can we understand here from this two-dimensional representation of a cross as a three-dimensional cube?
It seems to me that this is all very symbolic and and representative of how Yeshua bridges the gap between us and Our Heavenly Father, as The Divine Mediator, so to speak. The Holy of Holies, which was the earthly dwelling place of G*d and was a perfect cube. The High Priest was only permitted to enter the Holy of Holies, which was covered by a veil, once a year on Yom Kippur. Through The Most Precious Gift of Yeshua's Ultimate Sacrifice of The Cross, we may now enter The Holy of Holies and approach The Throne of Grace with Boldness!
"Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." - Hebrews 4:14-16
Through the understanding given to us by The Holy Spirit, the abstract two dimensional plane (which can be seen as akin to words on paper) becomes real and solid through our own experience and spiritual growth. Only through The Holy Spirit can we can begin to realize such a spiritual thing and know how it all pertains to our own lives. Yeshua is The Teacher and The Holy Spirit convicts us to live the life that we've been created to live. The spiritual perception given to us by The Ruach HaQodesh (Holy Spirit) enables the two dimensional plane of the cross to transcend the three dimensional cube that is The Holy of Holies; thus spiritually bringing us to a whole other new dimension. Without Yeshua and The Grace of Our Creator, all spiritual work is merely surface work, what a plane figure is to a solid object. Even though our fruit should most definitely reflect our faith, there is no amount of work that we could ever do to earn our salvation. I really prayed about how to best articulate this concept in as concisely as possible and I hope that this most precious truth, though abstract in nature, can be understood by anyone who reads these words.
Now, we know that G*d loves math and as mathematical expression, a cube is represented as x³ - so let's take a look at how we can see the cube play out all through scripture and reality in groups of threes.
Our Creator's Three Divine Attributes
We know that G*d has three attributes; Omniscience, Omnipresence, and Omnipotence. Omniscience is defined as “the state of knowing everything”. G*d’s Omnipresence is the expressed as His presence everywhere at the same time. His unlimited power and infinite capabilities are known as His Omnipotence.
We can observe the forms of water (solid, liquid and gas) as an archetype of the Complex Unity of G*d. I made an extensive post about this and how water is the most heavenly substance on earth. I highly recommend that you read it, or revisit it, as it directly ties in with this one. You can find that here:
Physically we can observe three types of muscle tissue are cardiac, smooth, and skeletal. There are three main types of rocks: sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic. Even our understanding of time is separated in three; past, present, and future. I'm sure that this list can keep going on and on.
In John's Revelation, the angel shows him the cubic perfection of The New Jerusalem descending out of Heaven:
"And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal." - Revelation 21:16
If we take the time to pay close attention, we will see that groups of three's are can be seen throughout scripture. This all points to the Complex Unity and how the the number three is symbolic of Divine Fulness.
Let's dig in and find some examples:
Aaron Benediction / The Priestly Blessing
The Aaron Benediction is The Blessing that was dictated from G*d to be given to Israel and here we see it is three two-fold parts, mentioning HaShem three times (threefold repetition). Interestingly enough, this blessing is kind of a foreshadow of the future Grace given to Israel through Yeshua. Israel done nothing to merit this blessing, it was genuinely a gift of grace from Abba.
“The LORD bless you and keep you;
the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.” - Numbers 9:24-26
I made a post on this one a while back, please see one here:
Threefold Numeric Perfection
On top of all this, we should pay close attention that all threefold repetitive combinations of any single digit are all divisible by 37 - which I like to refer to as Our Creator's Fingerprint. This is numeric evidence of the triune nature of divinity; behold!
111 / 37 = 3 --- also expressed as 37(1+1+1)
222 / 37 = 6 --- also expressed as 37(2+2+2)
333 / 37 = 9 --- also expressed as 37(3+3+3)
444 / 37 = 12 --- also expressed as 37(4+4+4)
555 / 37 = 15 --- also expressed as 37(5+5+5)
666 / 37 = 18 --- also expressed as 37(6+6+6)
777 / 37 = 21 --- also expressed as 37(7+7+7)
888 / 37 = 24 --- also expressed as 37(8+8+8)
999 / 37 = 27 --- also expressed as 37(9+9=9)
Of course, Jesus Christ in Greek is divisible by 37:
Ἰησοῦς
Jesus
888 or (37 x 24)
Χριστός
Christ
1480 or (37 x 40)
Expel / Cast Out
ἐκβάλλω
888 or (37 x 24)
τῷ σταυρῷ Ἰησοῦ
The Cross of Jesus
3589 (or 37 x 97)
Check out this ever-growing, living post for more details on Our Creator's Sacred Fingerprint of 37:
153 = The Sum of Cubes
“So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn.” - John 21:11
153 is the smallest three-digit number which can be expressed as the sum of the cubes of its digits - which is an obvious reference to The Complex Unity of The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit (aka “Trinity”).
1³+ 5³ + 3³ = 153
*(1 + 125 + 27) = 153*
There is so much more to be said about the significance of 153 and you can find that here:
The Voice From Above
"Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God" - Psalm 62:11
The Divine Testimony concerning Yeshua was confirmed audibly three times from above.
"And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him;
and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” - Matthew 3:16-17
"He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”
When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified.
But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” Matthew 17:5-7
"Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”
The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.”
Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine." - John 12:28-30
Three Raised From The Dead
The Gospels give the testimony of three people who Yeshua raised from the dead; Jairus daughter, the Widow's Son in The Town of Nain and His friend Lazarus.
1 - Jairus' Daughter
"Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet
and implored him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.”
And he went with him. And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him." - Mark 5:22-24
"Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,”which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.”
And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement." - Mark 5:41-42
2 - The Widow's Son in The Town of Nain
"As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her.
And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.”
Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.”
And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.
Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!” - Luke 7:12-16
3 - Lazarus
"Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.”
Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?”
So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.
I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.”
When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.”
The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” - John 11:38-44
Three Languages Used for The Titulus
Evidently, it was a custom of the Romans to use make a sign and affix it to the cross that proclaimed the reason why a person was being executed. In this particular case, we are told that three languages were used; Latin, Greek and Hebrew.
Latin was the official language of the Roman Empire; representing human government, power, and conquest. Greek was the international language of culture; it represented human wisdom, art, and commerce. Of course, Hebrew is The Pure Language used by The Jewish People and is the means by which Our Creator made Himself known to man.
"And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.
This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin.
Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews.
Pilate answered, What I have written I have written." - John 19:19-22
Three Descriptions of The Shepherd
"I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine." - John 10:14
"Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant" - Hebrews 13:20
"And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away." - 1 Peter 5:4
"The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want." - Psalm 23:1
We Will Do
When Moses gave The Torah to Israel, three times Israel said, "All the words which the LORD hath said will we do." This threefold promise marked the divine completion of our covenant with G*d.
"And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him.
And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD." - Exodus 19:7-8
"And Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the LORD hath said will we do." - Exodus 24:3
"And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient." - Exodus 24:7
Three Great Feasts
Three High Holy Holidays, or Three Great Feasts - known as Shalosh Regalim ( שלוש רגלים ) appointed by G*d, specified in The Torah.
Pesach ( פסח ) - Passover
Shavaot ( שבועות ) -Weeks or Pentecost
Sukkot (סכות) - Tabernacles, Tents or Booths
"Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty" - Deuteronomy 16:16
Three Gifts of Grace
Faith - Hope - Love
"So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love." - 1 Corinthians 13:13
"remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ." - 1 Thessalonians 1:3
The Three Parts of A Man
Body, Soul and Spirit
"Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Thessalonians 5:23
Threefold Corruption of G*d's Word in Eden
When we closely examine the first sin of mankind, we see a threefold corruption of G*d's Word that led to death. Nothing has changed, as it is written:
"You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you." - Deuteronomy 4:2
"And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest FREELY eat:
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt SURELY die." - Genesis 2:16-17
1) Taking Away From - When Eve was being tempted by the serpent, her first error in repeating G*d's Word was omitting the word "Freely" - this reduced G*d's giving nature and painted the picture of G*d as less bountiful than He was. Here we see His Word being Taken Away From.
"Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:" Genesis 3:1-2
2) Adding To - Eve added to G*d's Word when she told the serpent that "Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die." - by doing this, she was making G*d out to be more severe than He was. Here we see His Word being Added To.
"But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die." - Genesis 3:3
3) Altering - When Eve repeated that last part, she changed or altered "thou shalt surely die" to "lest ye die" - thus weakening the certainty of the Divine threat into a contingency. Here we see His Word being Altered.
This threefold tragedy was the recipe for disaster. When you explore it all at this depth, it's easy to see how she was tempted by the serpent. The Word is our only true weapon against The Adversary, we stand no chance without it. It must be kept pure and perfect with no corruption in anyway. This was a personal lesson for me that taught me the importance of committing The Word to memory; something that I've never been good at...so, needless to say, I have much work to do.
Yeshua revealed The Power of The Torah to us when He was tempted Three Times in The Desert...
Three Times in The Desert
Yeshua was tempted Three Times in The Desert and each time Yeshua quoted The Torah to overcome The Adversary. This is a powerful lesson for us all. We also see here that The Adversary knows scripture as well and uses it try and throw us off. Yeshua could have gotten rid of the devil in so many ways that we can't begin to comprehend. Yeshua used The Word of G*d to combat that darkness to show us all exactly what we have to do as well.
"The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.
And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’” - Luke 4:3-4
"He humbled you, and in your hunger He gave you manna to eat, which neither you nor your fathers had known, so that you might understand that man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD." - Deuteronomy 8:3
"And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will.
If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’” - Luke 4:5-8
"Fear the LORD your God, serve Him only, and take your oaths in His name." - Deuteronomy 6:13
"And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here,
for it is written, “‘He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,’
“‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”
And Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.
And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country. - Luke 4:9-14
"Do not test the LORD your God as you tested Him at Massah." - Deuteronomy 6:16
Three Times Divided
The Jordan River was divided three times, displaying a threefold perfection of The Divine Miracle.
"And the LORD said to Joshua,
“Command the priests bearing the ark of the testimony to come up out of the Jordan.”
So Joshua commanded the priests, “Come up out of the Jordan.”
And when the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the LORD came up from the midst of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests’ feet were lifted up on dry ground, the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and overflowed all its banks, as before." - Joshua 4:15-18
"Fifty men of the sons of the prophets also went and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. Then Elijah took his cloak and rolled it up and struck the water, and the water was parted to the one side and to the other, till the two of them could go over on dry ground." - 2 Kings 2:7-8
"And he took up the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan.
Then he took the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the water, saying, “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” And when he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha went over.
Now when the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho saw him opposite them, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they came to meet him and bowed to the ground before him." - 2 Kings 2:13-15
Significant Words Used Three Times Throughout Scripture:
Ateeq ( עתיק )
Ancient of Days / Ateeq Yomin ( עתיק יומיא )
This is one of most mysterious terms in Bible, the vision of G*d on His Throne that was revealed to Daniel. I imagine that our English word "Antique" could have possibly been derived somehow from the Hebrew Ateeq ( עתיק ) - Ancient. Our Creator is beyond human comprehension, however every prophet who has been blessed to have a revelation of G*d all describe a very similar scene. The term that is used in Ezekiel 1:1, regarding Ezekiel's divine relation of The Throne, is Marot ( מראתו ) "Visions" - so here we literally see the numerical evidence that Ancient of Days and The Vision (or Mirror) of G*d are directly tied to one another.
Ateeq Yomin ( עתיק יומיא ) - Ancient of Days = Numeric Value = 647
Marot ( מראתו ) - Vision / His Mirror = Numeric Value = 647
"As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire." - Daniel 7:9
"I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him." - Daniel 7:13
"until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom." - Daniel 7:22
Adar ( אדר ) - Majestic / Glorious
This sacred word is used twice in "The Song of Moses" and once in Isaiah.
Adar ( אדר ) = Numeric Value = 205
( הר ) = Mountain = 205
"Your right hand, O LORD, glorious in power,
your right hand, O LORD, shatters the enemy." - Exodus 15:6
"Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods?
Who is like you, majestic in holiness,
awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?" - Exodus 15:11
"The LORD was pleased, for his righteousness’ sake,
to magnify his law and make it glorious." - Isaiah 42:11
Abba ( Ἀββᾶ ) - Father
Ἀββᾶ is the Greek transliteration from the Hebrew word Abba ( אבא ), meaning "Father". This is not the formal form as we would refer to as "Father" - which is Av ( אב ), but Ἀββᾶ - Abba is more like saying "Daddy", as it's a more intimate and endearing term. Thankfully, this is one of those sacred Hebrew words that has been preserved in all languages and is the word that Yeshua used when He referred to G*d. Yeshua taught us how to pray properly and using this personal term in our own prayers is very powerful.
Abba ( Ἀββᾶ ) - Father = Numeric Value = 6
Abba ( אבא ) - Father = Numeric Value = 4
The combined values of Abba in both Hebrew and Greek (10) is an example of the completeness and oneness of Our Creator. We see 10 throughout scripture and when reduced as (1+0) is 1.
"And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” - Matthew 14:36
"For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” - Romans 8:15
"And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” - Galatians 4:6
Acheiropoiēton ( ἀχειροποίητον ) - Made Without Hands
Yet another interesting word that is only used three times in The Bible that's obviously directly referring to Our Creator. Only G*d can make something from nothing. This unusual Greek word seems to very close to the Hebrew word "Bara" ( ברא ), which means "to create", and Bara is only defined as "to shape/create" in reference to G*d.
“We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.’” - Mark 14:58
"For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." - 2 Corinthians 5:1
"In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ" - Colossians 2:11
Acheiropoiēton ( ἀχειροποίητον ) - Made Without Hands = Numeric Value = 1374
Teleiōtheis (τελειωθεὶς) - Being Made Perfect = Numeric Value = 1374
This 1374 Numeric Value is profound as we see it is a direct link the term in reference to Our Creator creation. "Made Without Hands" = "Being Made Perfect" - Amazing!
"And BEING MADE PERFECT, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him" - Hebrews 5:9
"Will the Lord spurn forever,
and never again be favorable?" - Psalms 77:7
הלעולמים יזנח ׀ אדני ולא־יסיף לרצות עוד
Total Numeric Value of Verse = 1374
"Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty,
but humility comes before honor." - Proverbs 18:12*
לפניש־בר יגבה לב־איש ולפני כבוד ענוה
Total Numeric Value of Verse = 1374
*This verse was just referenced in the following post*
We see that 1374 is the Numeric Value of the following verse that is referencing Yeshua as "The Vine" who will "Come and Reign Over Us".
"And the trees said to the vine, ‘You come and reign over us." - Judges 9:12
ויאמרו העצים לגפן לכי את מלוכי עלינו
Total Numeric Value of Verse = 1374
"I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." - John 15:5
"Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like A TREE
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither." - Psalm 1:1-3
The Truth, The Life and The Way
"Jesus said to him, “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me." - John 14:6
Truth - Emet - ( אמת )
Life - Chai - ( חי )
Way - Devar - ( דרך )
When we take the first letters of each of the Hebrew words for Truth, Life and Way and put them together, via Notarikon, we get the following:
אחד = ONE
“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is ONE!" - Deuteronomy 6:4
"There is ONE body and ONE Spirit--just as you were called to the ONE hope that belongs to your call--
ONE Lord, ONE faith, ONE baptism
one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." - Ephesians 4:4-6
חסד ושלום עליכם והרבה אהבה וברכות
Grace and Peace Be Upon You and Much Love and Blessings!
I've always liked the sphere, but now that I've read this, the cube is my favorite 3D shape. It reminds me of our true home!