God's Art Gallery

At last Saturday’s “A Morning Apart”, we dared to look at ourselves through God’s eyes.  Using Mark 1: 10-12 as a cornerstone, we listened to a voice from heaven that proclaims;  "YOU are my Beloved".  As if that were not risky enough, we were offered the opportunity to look at ourselves in a mirror; move past the bad hair day, the wrinkles, the dark circles under the eyes, the blemishes, any fears, doubts, or hurts we try to conceal, to the beloved child which God claims as His own.

During the quiet time, small canvases were available to paint a self-portrait, in whatever way one chose, to represent the true self; God's Beloved.  The results were remarkable.  From realistic to abstract, flowers, trees, mountains, and doves; each person became vulnerable with God. 

In our closing reflection, my friend declared the altar had become “God’s art gallery”.   And indeed it had!

If you’ve never looked into a mirror  to see yourself as God sees you, give it a try.  It’s a bit scary, but you just might be surprised at the reflection gazing back at you.

“You are my Son (my Daughter), the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.

Lent: An emptying out and filling up

Whenever I hear the word Lent, craving chocolate comes to mind.  Most likely because that is what I would choose to give-up during the forty days of temptation in the wilderness.  I never quite understood how this denial would bring me closer to Jesus, but then again I’m the proverbial ‘good girl’, who does what she’s supposed to do – and asks questions later!

However, this year appears to be starting out differently.  It’s those darned buttons I wrote about a few weeks ago!  I’m noticing a pattern in which ones are being pushed.  Within the variety of size, color, and shape, there’s a common theme; and if you want to know the truth, I think God’s the one doing the pushing!

I’m sensing new vistas on the horizon, but I can’t make the journey carrying the same old tired looking luggage packed full of worn-out buttons!  Consequently, God keeps giving me opportunities to choose a better way of dealing with the unwanted stings that life dishes out.  

And I’m beginning to wonder if perhaps this is my Lenten journey with Jesus in the wilderness; an emptying out and filling up – not an either/or, but a both/and.

Maybe giving up chocolate wasn’t so hard after all!

Naked in the Wilderness

OK, I apologize, not the visual you wanted, nonetheless, it’s a great descriptor for my current location!   Why is that my image at the present moment?  Let me explain.

 I’ve been having these nudges to read the Bible in its entirety.  I encounter passages in my daily meditations, am even rather familiar with a few, but not much in depth.  I am an Episcopalian for heaven’s sake!  So I’ve purchased a “read through the Bible in one year” edition and have begun the trek through the Old Testament.

WOW – NOT for the faint of heart!  It’s only been a month and I’ve witnessed sacrifices, floods (BIG floods!), plagues of all sorts, adultery, incest, a host of dysfunctional family systems, and some pretty interesting miracles thrown in along the way!

Moses has just led his people out of Egypt (not an easy task I learned) and now they’re wandering around in the desert complaining about the food and water supply!  I mean for how long were they in captivity?  God orchestrated all these amazing (graphic I must say) events to set His people on a new path toward their homeland and they’re looking back at Egypt with longing eyes.

Well, there I am!  I’ve been “kicked out of Egypt”!  I’ve been in a leadership role at church for the last three years, two of which have offered me a lofty title and my own imaginary crown.  I’ve always enjoyed being at the top!  But alas, the term limits expired, the crown handed to the new presiding queen, and I’m looking back at Egypt saying, “Wait a minute, how did I get out here?  I was just getting comfortable with my captivity!”

The thing is, I don’t really want to go back.  Actually, I can emphatically say NO; I don’t want to go back.  But I’ve been in this wilderness place wandering about in an unknown land before, who knows what lies ahead?   THAT, it seems, is the million-dollar question.

So for now I will trust that God knows; that He will clothe me and set me on my next path.  I do hope it won’t be as tumultuous a journey as it was for the Israelites!