Sunday, October 28, 2012

Sunday Afternoon Tea

Every person is an artist.
The whole of life is a creative act.  
The warp and woof of each life is equivalent
to the artist's paint or the musician's sounds.
Ranald Macaulay and Jerram Barrs
in Being Human

I've been reading about art, and creativity, and God, and living the Christian life, and walking the walk, and enjoying the journey... in between doing dishes, and laundry, and housework, and a lot of getting property ready for winter.

The quote under the picture above is from a chapter in Real Love for Real Life: The Art and Work of Caring by Andi Ashworth.  I've read it through a couple times and was perusing chapters when I came across the quote again.

It struck me in a couple different ways... for one thing I love the idea of our life being a creative act we "paint" for God. 

I've long thought of each house as being a canvas for a home making artist and I enjoy listening to the music of nature as I walk through woods.  But thinking of my life as a work of art brought about some significant pondering.

Then... the words reminded me of another writer... one whose works touched millions with her humble faith in spite of having suffered atrocities in a Nazi concentration camp.   When Corrie Ten Boom talked to audiences around the world, she often carried with her a tapestry. 

She would show the bottom of the tapestry with all its' tangled mess and remind those who listened that this side of the tapestry of our life is what we see.  Then as she would turn it over to show the top of the needlework, she reminded us this is the way God sees our life, a beautiful work of art when completed. 

I so often find the timing of my reading to be God inspired for this past month was extremely tight financially with gasoline put in the van a few dollars at a time and often going without even the most common items.  

He allows such bumps along the road for it causes us to remember He is the Source of all provision.

What does this have to do with a lifetime as art presented to Him?  He reminded me again that the one thing we all have the ability to give him is our attitude. 

I could envision our praise in times of trouble becoming golden threads woven amongst the darker colors... the "warp and woof" of our life bringing forth a thing of beauty as His people offer thanks and praise in spite of their circumstances and before seeing answer to prayer.

I once read a work of fiction in which the angels could not comprehend the ability of those whom He created in His likeness to praise Him in the dark paths along the journey.  It was something unique to Adam's race in the book and I am certain in reality.

Can you imagine a world in which angels stand in amazement because you chose to praise Him in the storm?  

I want my life to be a work of art that the Son can present to the Father in "that Day".  He does not require great things along the path, no... He only asks us to trust and obey and have faith and read His word and chat with Him along the way.

For it is not the lack of hard times that paints the beautiful tapestry of our life He will present before the Father.  It is the threads of gold and silver and ruby and garnet and emerald and diamond and all the colors of the rainbow... those are the threads we create when we chose to trust instead of fear and praise instead of complain.

What does your tapestry look like so far?  Does it... like mine... need a little more glitter here and there or does it reflect a life of  praise?  Hmmm... much to ponder.

6 comments:

Cheri said...

Thank you for this reminder. Perfect timing. We have several 'storms' swirling about us right now. I am tempted to fix them (though I can't); I sorely needed the reminder to praise.

It breaks my heart that my mother no longer knows my name. Through the fog of Alzheimer's I have now become the annoying person who tells her what to do: dress, brush her teeth, eat... Though she does not know my name, I will continually lift up His Precious Name.

Thank you Brenda. Timely words, as always.

Deanna Rabe - Creekside Cottage Blog said...

Beautiful words and timely - with a monster storm on the way, physically, it may be that many of us are going to have to praise Him in the storm, literally.

Corrie Ten Boom was an amazing woman with such wisdom - how glad I am that she chose Praise when she could have chosen hatred.

How glad I am that you chose Praise too!

Deanna

Vee said...

Not sure about the glitter...though I know it could use more light. What a delicious gathering of thoughts to words this post is. So much...so very much to ponder.

Anonymous said...

Thank you. I loved this post! I have a question but it is not about this post. You used to have a play list of the best music. Am I missing it or is it gone forever? I used to read your post then just put your play list and do my chores on as you had gathered together the best list of songs! Sarah

Tracey McBride ~ Frugal Luxuries® said...

I Love this post Brenda. I love the quote about creating the warp and woof of our lives. As well...Corrie Ten Boom was/is an inspiration to all of us. Throughout my life I've so often found myself referring back to so many of the quiet lessons learned from her stories.

I want to say an especial "Thank you" for your steadiness wisdom and thoughtful posts throughout the years.
Love,
Tracey
x0x

Front Porch Grace said...

Can I offer you gratitude as I also offer our Father thanksgiving for reading this this morning? This was a beautiful heart nesting devotion for my children and I this morning.

In His Grace,
Michelle