Driving around this week I couldn't help but notice the beauty of the barren trees. Even in this cold winter with no snow to make a shiny white wonderland, God's world provides a lovely view. Lord, help me never take for granted your beauty that surrounds me!
Winter Trees
Shades of gray across an arctic sky
Streaked by silver-tinted clouds
As they reflect the winter sun
Now a canvas for nature’s lace
Flowing up from frozen earth
Looking from my grounded place
My eyes are heaven bound
Graceful etchings dark and twisted
Define the middle view
Random branches, stems and seeds
Twist and turn in ways carefree
Not bound by rules or lines
All to form wild tapestries
Across the frigid sky
Friday, January 20, 2012
Friday, January 13, 2012
Being Who We Are
How embarrassing.... its been so long since I posted here that I forgot my own password to log on!
My son is now a young man, and is doing work he loves and that allows him to fully express himself. It happens to be in the world of politics, so I pray for his soul, but it got me thinking about what a great gift that is, the opportunity to do what brings him joy.
It also got me thinking about how I have tripped myself up over the years and created stumbling blocks (or excuses) to doing the same for myself. Somehow there always seemed to be a good reason for not doing those things that were really about being who I am.
When I did allow myself that freedom, it felt selfish, or silly. Which is why the book I've been reading lately has been such a huge encouragement to me. It is called Scribbling in the Sand, by Michael Card, and I highly recommend it to anyone who thinks about the subject of the book's subtitle: Christ and Creativity. Early in the book he mentions a similar struggle of his own, his doubts about his abilities as a successful musician and writer. I was stunned to read my own thoughts on the page, the same negative lies that fill my head when I sit down to write.
What he figured out, and shares through the book, is that our urge to create is a natural response to our love for our Creator, a way we worship God and respond to His creativity and the beauty all around us.
No matter how much mankind may mess it up, we were made to love and worship. Creative expression matters, because it is an important part of being who we are.
My son is now a young man, and is doing work he loves and that allows him to fully express himself. It happens to be in the world of politics, so I pray for his soul, but it got me thinking about what a great gift that is, the opportunity to do what brings him joy.
It also got me thinking about how I have tripped myself up over the years and created stumbling blocks (or excuses) to doing the same for myself. Somehow there always seemed to be a good reason for not doing those things that were really about being who I am.
When I did allow myself that freedom, it felt selfish, or silly. Which is why the book I've been reading lately has been such a huge encouragement to me. It is called Scribbling in the Sand, by Michael Card, and I highly recommend it to anyone who thinks about the subject of the book's subtitle: Christ and Creativity. Early in the book he mentions a similar struggle of his own, his doubts about his abilities as a successful musician and writer. I was stunned to read my own thoughts on the page, the same negative lies that fill my head when I sit down to write.
What he figured out, and shares through the book, is that our urge to create is a natural response to our love for our Creator, a way we worship God and respond to His creativity and the beauty all around us.
No matter how much mankind may mess it up, we were made to love and worship. Creative expression matters, because it is an important part of being who we are.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Medals of Freedom
I watched an inspiring ceremony at the White House today. Actually, I was in my room watching a television broadcast of the event, but still felt inspired. The President was awarding the Medal of Freedom to 15 individuals. These men and women join a remarkable group of over 20,000 recipients thus recognized for their "especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors."
Among today’s winners were a concentration camp survivor, business, community, and labor leaders, artists, athletes, and a former U.S. President. All of these diverse characters had one thing in common; they lived each day to the full and used their passion and talent to better the human condition. Most of the recipients were quite old, having lived long lives of productive service. Some had to be helped to their seats and some remained seated throughout the ceremony, but their physical frailty belied their inner strength.
How many of us wake each day determined to squeeze every moment out of it and make a difference in our world? I know for myself that I think about it sometimes, but then all too quickly let the drudgery of daily life sap me of my focus on the goal. It is at those times when I am tempted to berate myself for failing that I must turn to the greatest goal setter of all. God knows my strengths as well as my weaknesses, and wants to use me as I am. One day, one moment at a time, for as long as the number of days He has planned for me. Those winners did not accomplish all that they had done at once. They did it day by day, moment by moment, through every simple choice and action.
Right now, in this moment, I choose to follow Christ. I’m not a gifted athlete, or politician, or artist. My life is just a small part of God’s creation, full of ‘small things’, and fading as quickly as the lilies in the field. I won’t get a medal from the President or anyone else, but I do look forward to a greater and lasting reward. I hope and pray that someday the greatest King of all will say to me, “well done, good and faithful servant.”
Among today’s winners were a concentration camp survivor, business, community, and labor leaders, artists, athletes, and a former U.S. President. All of these diverse characters had one thing in common; they lived each day to the full and used their passion and talent to better the human condition. Most of the recipients were quite old, having lived long lives of productive service. Some had to be helped to their seats and some remained seated throughout the ceremony, but their physical frailty belied their inner strength.
How many of us wake each day determined to squeeze every moment out of it and make a difference in our world? I know for myself that I think about it sometimes, but then all too quickly let the drudgery of daily life sap me of my focus on the goal. It is at those times when I am tempted to berate myself for failing that I must turn to the greatest goal setter of all. God knows my strengths as well as my weaknesses, and wants to use me as I am. One day, one moment at a time, for as long as the number of days He has planned for me. Those winners did not accomplish all that they had done at once. They did it day by day, moment by moment, through every simple choice and action.
Right now, in this moment, I choose to follow Christ. I’m not a gifted athlete, or politician, or artist. My life is just a small part of God’s creation, full of ‘small things’, and fading as quickly as the lilies in the field. I won’t get a medal from the President or anyone else, but I do look forward to a greater and lasting reward. I hope and pray that someday the greatest King of all will say to me, “well done, good and faithful servant.”
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