Sunday Afternoon Tea

One of my favorite sections of Scripture is about the building of the Tabernacle in the wilderness.  We read in chapter upon chapter, God's exact instructions for building the Place where He would dwell with His people at that time in history.

Perhaps the most important aspect of God's character I learned from these chapters was (and is) His love of  beauty and the importance it is to our lives.  I mean, really, how can you argue with this...

^"God spoke to Moses: "See what I've done; I've personally chosen Bezalel son of Uri, son of Hur of the tribe of Judah. I've filled him with the Spirit of God, giving him skill and know-how and expertise in every kind of craft to create designs and work in gold, silver, and bronze; to cut and set gemstones; to carve wood—he's an all-around craftsman.

Not only that, but I've given him Oholiab, son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan, to work with him. And to all who have an aptitude for crafts I've given the skills to make all the things I've commanded you..."  Exodus 31: 1-11 The Message (modern translation).

It reminds me of Edith Schaeffer's statement that we among all people (Christians) should be known by the beauty which surrounds us.

While we are also warned against materialism and making a god of the things of this world and we know we must only spend within our income (and perhaps even less than we earn), we are also called to create.  We... who are created in the image of a creative God... will never know true joy until we find our hidden Bazalel.  Who, what, huh?

You know, the guy God gifted to create all kinds of good stuff in the Scripture above.

There is a reason we are drawn to plant tulip bulbs, paint landscapes, make up stories about Hobbits who save the kingdom, brown the beef before adding veggies to simmer in the Le Cruset, combine flour and sugar and butter and milk and chocolate chips, cut fabric into squares to sew back together into beautiful covers to warm our family, turn skeins of yarn into lovely sweaters with two needles, or a cherry tree into a table.

It is why we enjoy using our china and crystal at Christmas and cover the picnic table with red gingham on the 4th of July.  There is a reason some of us spend time carefully touching and perusing vintage books, lining them up on shelves to glance upon with fondness or keep our eclectic collection of silver spoons beside the coffeepot in an Americana mug.

Our homes (be they a room or a mansion) reflect the person God created us to become.  Which is why we can walk through the front door of a friend's house and feel immediately at home while another leaves us cold... both creatively decorated with love but the colors and style and architecture of one is friendly and the other foreign... neither right nor wrong... but unique to the individual.

We must never feel it is ungodly to spend time creating.  Just turn to Proverbs 31 again to view God's perfect ideal of woman and see that she is frugal and creative.  It is in our God given DNA from that time He breathed into Adam the breath of Life... in His image... the Creator who created us to... create.

We were born in Eden and Scripture shows us it is at the core of our being to take great delight in beautifying our surroundings.  We may not be working with gold and silver for a Tabernacle but if it is true the Holy Spirit lives within each Christian... we create our homes and lives to become a place He will enjoy living.