The Most Important Piece of Art

I read the most beautiful piece of art describing creation itself. I had to share it with you.

The scene begins in darkness,

Darkness over the deep and God’s breath hovering over waters. (Gen. 1:2)

The breathless moment in the dark before the first notes of concert, a play, or an epic film. All is formless, empty, dark. Then a voice speaks.

“Let there be light.” (Gen. 1:3)

And suddenly, there is light, pure magnificent light. It’s radiance will enable us to see now what is unfolding. The voice speaks again, and again.

“Let there be a vault in the midst of the waters, and let it divide water from water.” (Gen. 1:6)

“Let the waters under the heavens be gathered in one place so that the dry land will appear.” (Gen. 1:9)

Creation in its early stages begins like any great work of art –with uncut stone or a mass of clay, a rough sketch, a blank sheet of music. “Formless and empty” as Genesis 1:2 has it. Then God begins to fashion raw materials he has made, like an artist working with the stone or sketch or page before him. Light and dark, heaven and earth, land and sea –it’s beginning to take shape. With passion and brilliance the Creator works in large, sweeping movements on a grand scale. Great realms are distinguished from one another and established. Then he moves back over them again for a second pass as he begins to fill in color, detail, and finer lines.

“Let the earth grow grass, plants…and trees bearing fruit…” (Gen. 1:11)

“Let there be lights in the vault of the heavens…” (Gen. 1:14)

“Let the waters swarm with the swarm of living creatures and let fowl fly over the earth.” (Gen. 1:20)

Forest and meadows burst forth. Tulips and pine trees and moss covered stones. And notice—the masterpiece is becoming more intricate, more intimate. He fills the night sky with a thousand million stars, and he names them, sets them in constellations. Into our world God opens his hand and animals spring forth. Myriads of birds, in every shape and size and song, take wing—hawks, herons, pelicans. All the creatures of the sea leap into it—whales, dolphins, fish of a thousand colors and designs. Horses, gazelles, buffalo thunder across the plains, running like the wind. It is more astonishing than we could possibly imagine.

From water and stone, to pomegranate and rose, to leopard and nightingale, creation ascends in beauty. The plot is thickening; the symphony is building and swelling, higher and higher to a crescendo. No wonder, “the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy” (Job 38:7). A great hurrah goes up from the heavens. The greatest of all masterpieces is emerging. What was once formless and empty is now overflowing with life and color and sound and movement in a thousand variations. Most importantly, notice that each creature is MORE intricate and noble and mysterious than the last. A cricket is amazing, but cannot compare to a wild horse.

Then something truly astonishing takes place.

God sets his own image in the earth. He creates a being like himself. He creates a son.

The Lord formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being. (Gen. 2:7)

It is nearing the end of the sixth day, the end of the Creator’s great labor, as Adam steps forth, the image of God, the triumph of his work. He alone is pronounced the Son of God. Nothing in creation even comes close. Picture Michelangelo’s “David”. He is…magnificent. Truly, the masterpiece seems complete. And yet, the Master says the something is not good, not right. Something is missing…and that something is Eve.

And the Lord God cast a deep slumber on the human, and he slept, and He took one of his ribs and closed over the flesh where it had been, and the Lord God built the rib He had taken from the human into a woman and He brought he to the human. (Gen. 2:21-23)

She is the crescendo, the final, astonishing work of God. Woman. In one last flourish creation comes to finish not with Adam, but with Eve. She is the Master’s finishing touch. How we wish this were an illustrated book, and we could show you now some painting or sculpture of the goddess Nike of Samothrace, the winged beauty, just alighting on the prow of a great ship, her beautiful form revealed through the thin veils that sweep around her. Eve is…breathtaking.

Given the way creation unfolds how it builds to ever higher and higher works of art, can there be any doubt that Eve is the crown of creation? Not an afterthought. Not a nice addition like an ornament on a tree. She is God’s final touch, his piece de resistance. She fills a place in the world nothing and no one else can fill. Step to a window. Better yet, find some place with a view. Look out across the earth and say to yourself, “The whole, vast world is incomplete without me. Creation reached its zenith in me.”

A week of Lessons

Dear Tuesday, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking this week. I went back and read my first blog, wow I’ve changed so much since then! That got me thinking though, I’ve seriously changed so much in the past (close to) 10 years. I’ve always heard people say that it would happen. But I’m just shocked at looking at the transformation that’s taken place. Thank you for being one of the few constant things in my life forever. <3

Dear friendships, I’m sorry but I’m breaking up with the way that I used to see you. I need more “real life, real talk” friends, and less surface level ones. Friends that ask the hard questions. Friends that know where to draw the line between holding me accountable and letting me stretch my wings. I’m enjoying the beginning stages of some of the best friendships that I’ve ever had right now. I know that there are more to come. Thanks for the people that were once more than surface level friends, for they are the reason that I’m hear today. Without them I don’t know where I would be. BUT. I’m called to a higher place and that means that my friendships have to increase to get me there. No I’m not talking about making tons of new friends, I’m talking about the friendships that I DO have need to be the ones that increase me. And that when I’m on the verge of starting a new friendship I’ll be entering it with prayer instead of looking for someone that’s my age or at the same life stage as me. My God is capable of transcending age. I’m excited for our relationship to change.

Dear obedience, you’re a tricky one. I never thought of myself as someone that had a problem with you. But apparently I do. Or better yet, apparently I do and I’m working on it. This past week you’ve taught me that my obedience is so much more than something that works for me. If I’m obedient about a situation/relationship then anyone else involved is getting a helpful push to be obedient themself. Sometimes it’s easier if someone else is initially obedient for you.

Dear Pastor Jonathan, your message on Sunday was one of the more inspiring messages that I’ve heard in a while. Ever since I have been looking at everything I do and asking if I’m truly doing them with excellence. Doing everything as if I were doing it for Christ himself. That totally put things into perspective for me in a way that I’d never seen it before. Am I cleaning our house as if it were God’s house? Am I cooking meals as if God will be eating with us? Am I being a good listener to my friends and family as if it were God himself speaking? This has been a difficult challenge. I’ve failed already at some things and things that I’ve succeeded in changing have opened my eyes to other places where I need to implement this challenge. Thank you for challenging me to become a better version of myself. Thank you for pushing me to be the woman that God has called me to be.

Dear Father Jesus, I have so much to thank you for. Thank you for the courage to let friends inside, sometimes I don’t even recognize myself anymore when it comes to this. Thank you for giving me a small cluster of friends that I can learn from, who can learn from me, and that we can learn and grow together. I touched on this a little bit last week but I don’t think it’s a coincidence that You gave me the title of this blog when you did. However, I feel like I don’t ask you enough to truly break my heart for what breaks yours. Jesus, if breaking my heart is what it takes for me to become the person You want me to be, then go ahead. Break me until I am truly whole. I mean that more today then I ever have. I promise to ask You this everyday, and mean it more everyday.  Tomorrow marks 4 months since I moved home, and I can honestly say that I haven’t enjoyed every moment of it. But the parts that I have loved have more than made up for any doubts I have faced. These 4 months have been such a calm, learning experience that I’m beyond grateful for. It’s crazy to look at how much my relationship with You has changed. Who knew that a season where I was more dependent on my parents would also be the one where I would finally become totally dependent on You. You’ve spoken to me in ways that I’d only dreamed about before (see what I did there J). There are just some things that a girl needs to hear directly from her Father, and You do that so well. Thank you for being patient as I came to this realization on my own. You’re kind of awesome like that. I could talk to you all day, and most days I’m sure that I talk Your ear off. But I know You love it. You’re truly the best thing that ever happened to me. Sorry for being all mushy. Love you Papa.

Tuesday, it’s time to part ways again. I’m going to enjoy you in a different way, instead of in-front of this computer screen. You’re such a great listener, thanks for sitting there as I talk, type, erase, type, and eventually post this. Thanks for always being patient with the jumbled mess that is me.

Go hard in the paint!

Dear Tuesday, I’m going to be honest and say that I don’t really want to do this today. I know that normally I look forward to talking to you, but this week I don’t know what I need/want to say. So I’m just going to allow the Holy Spirit to lead me on this one.

Dear Anna, you are the only one who knew before reading this where my heart is at right now. I’m beyond thankful for your guidance, which I know I’ve barley tapped into. Knowing that The Lord aligned us for this specific time makes my journey somewhat easier. After my dream the other night I knew why, and then when I told you about it and we saw how it lined up with your vision….well all I can say is, only Jesus is capable of that. I’m so thankful that The Lord didn’t connect us earlier (that may sound weird), because I know that I wouldn’t appreciate you in the same way that I do now. Few people understand the calling on my life in the way that you do. Thank you for pushing on me to hang on and wait patiently for better. Thanks for always being the kick in the ass that I need. I’m so thankful for the things that The Lord has brought us both through, girl we’re going to CHANGE the world. Favor is just starting to fall on us, but the downpour is coming! Love you friend and I’m excited for all the adventures ahead for you!

Dear Kristin, you have been such a pleasant surprise this past week. You’re someone that I’ve always wanted to spend more time with and really get to know. And I’m so thankful that The Lord has planted us near each other again so that we can learn and grow together. We have so much in common, we understand how each other is feeling about this season of growth (growing pains), and yet we’re so different that it will make it easier to learn from each other. We’re in the midst of very similar family situations and after talking with you the other night I noticed something. We both see our situation from different angles. Angles that the other needs to see it from. Looking at it from someone else’s angle may be just what we need for breakthrough. Just continue to keep your eye on the finish line. You know what the prize is. Run after it. It’s closer than you think. I’m running with you, we’ll get there together!

Dear P, well as of two minutes ago I had no idea what to say but you just lit a fire under me. “The narrow road is hard. Following Christ is hard but the reward is great. Go hard in the paint. Go hard.” Whether you know it or not Basketball has always had a special place in my heart. Hearing those words from a coach always made me dig in a little harder and push myself past where I was comfortable. The same goes for life. This blog was never started to keep me in a comfortable place. The title itself should give that much away. Thanks for reminding me of that in a VERY funny way. Our long distance friendship is the biggest blessing to me. Like my relationship with Anna, I’m very thankful that The Lord waited to line up our friendship until right now. You sent me an email this morning that talked about how at times we need to learn to minister to ourselves, and The Lord wants that so badly that He will blind the eyes and deafen the ears of our closest friends. It wasn’t until I read that that I realized that is along the lines of what He does with us occasionally. You always know when to give me space and when to give advice. And I’m always thankful for both. Recently with the dream interpretation I was VERY thankful for the space to interpret it alone. That was something that I needed to do, thank you for understanding that. Thank you for always being obedient to the Spirit. Everyone needs a friend like you that they can just be real with, in serious situations, in funny situations, and every kind in between. I love #realtalks with you bestie.

King of kings, I’m in awe of you again. You’ve had the right people reach out to me in the perfect ways in this season. You’re knit all of us together in the most beautiful way that only You can. Our strengths and weaknesses blend so well together, but mostly I thank you for your presence. Without I would just have subpar friendships. And you’ve called me to greater so I know that you’re also called my friendships to become greater. Thank you for being the perfect comforter and protector. You alone know how much of an issue finding a job is to me. Thank you for protecting me from the wrong jobs in this season. I know that You have the perfect one right around the corner for me and I’m waiting patiently for it. Thank you for supplying every need that I’ve had and every need that I will have. Thank you for ALWAYS being here for me. Thank you for always giving me strength. I’m desperate for You and I just can’t seem to get enough of You.

Tuesday, that ended up going better than I thought. Thanks for letting me work all of that out on my own. You’re always and forever my favorite. Love you.

Breaking Up Is Hard To Do.

Dear Tuesday, another week already. These are seriously flying by right now, right? Thanks for always allowing me to talk your ear off. Love ya.

Dear Boone, thank you for letting me go. I never really thought that I would be thankful for that but as of today, I am. Going back to visit you this weekend was so weird, and made me realize that I’ve fallen out of love with you. The breakup was the most painful for me, but in the end we both seem to have handled it well. We really are better off with other people. Things there that used to take my breath away just didn’t do it for me anymore. It wasn’t painful but it was a weird feeling to visit somewhere that I thought would be my home forever. Thank you for understanding that I needed these 3 months to get over you (I might have even needed a little longer…). I sat in my favorite chair at my favorite place this weekend (the sawmill) and ALMOST felt myself falling back in love with you all over again. I hate to admit that. And it just makes me want to cry. And now I am. I’m trying to fight back the tears so they go unnoticed but I’m failing. It’s painful but I know that it’s for the best. I really do. But leaving made it almost feel like I was doing it all over again for the first time. I hate that I saw people that I didn’t care to see, and missed seeing people that I really felt like I needed to spend some time with. It’s breaking my heart. All weekend I was inwardly complaining about you and how awkward it was, but there I was Sunday at 5pm in tears over you. I guess that’s how I’ll be when I visit lots of places again after leaving pieces of my heart there. I just have to keep asking myself if it will ever get easier. After rereading all of that I realize that I probably only make sense to myself. To put it “simply”: I was surprised to not have missed some things and that makes me emotional, and that in turn makes me miss the things that I do even more. It was crazy to see how much I’ve changed in a short amount of time, it surprised me more than anything. Bottom line: I’m overly emotional about you.

Dear Sawmill house, you are 90% of the reason that I love Boone the way that I do. I don’t know how to tell you how thankful I am for your couch, comfy chair, little cereal bowls, best cat in the world, and even creepy things that go thump in the night. Thanks for being a great sounding board listener with awesome advice. I hope you know how much our little talks mean to me. And for some reason I always tend to be within your walls when I feel the need to let my defenses down and cry lately. Thanks for not judging me. And if you think I’m crazy, thanks for letting me get it all out anyways. You make leaving Boone so difficult, hence the extra night. The bonus day was exactly what I needed and I suspect you would say the same. There’s nowhere that I would have wanted to be yesterday.

“The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart.”

                                                 Elizabeth Foley

This quote describes our friendship so beautifully. Thank you for just understanding me. Thank you for being my home away from home. #mablerocks

            Dear apt P, last night was the most beautiful start to wonderful friendship. “Detoxing” there was just what I needed. Who knew that leaving Boone 3 months later would bring back some of the same feelings I had when originally moving? You did of course. Having a night full of laughter, tears, and Jesus was exactly what I needed and I suspect that it was just as good for all of us. I can see that that was going to be the first of many nights like that, and I couldn’t be more excited!

           

Dear Papa Jesus, you know my heart better than anyone. I cannot thank you enough for protecting me from my own desires. I love how you revealed to the doctor that I have a larger call on my life than to be a receptionist at an amazing office. That was something that I think I knew deep down already but it took a near stranger saying it to really get it to sink in. Thank you for working in unexpected ways. Thank you for removing me from a situation that was going to keep me from my purpose. I can definitely see how easily I would have fallen in love with working there and then it would have been hard to leave and pursue what You’re calling me to. And then I’m looking down the barrel at another situation similar to my Boone “breakup”. And I’m being real when I say that I can only handle one breakup at a time. Thank you for blessing me with a great network of friends down here that share so many of the same thoughts and feelings that I do. Thank you for reminding me of that last night. It’s so easy for me to sit and think that I’m all alone and no one could possibly understand these crazy thoughts and feelings after a weekend like I just had. Thank you for those who walked before me that are making my walk easier. Thank you for allowing me to grow in ways that won’t just help me, but will help others as well. Thank you for revealing a new cause that has apparently always been dear to my heart. Thank you for being patient as I realized it for myself. My heart is too big to just be focused on Kernersville, and orphans. Thank you for breaking my heart for women and children that are being trafficked all over the world. Not just in foreign countries but right here in my backyard. Yes triad area, I’m looking at you, and I want to stamp this out. I take that back. Stamping it out would imply that I want to crush it. That’s just not enough. I want to dig down to the root and completely destroy it from there. I’m so disgusted right now. Seriously thank you for that. Thank you for loving me through my crazy emotions that I sometimes tend to let get the best of me. You’re seriously the best, I fall more in love with you everyday.

Tuesday, well it’s almost time for me to witness a proposal in this Starbucks so I’m glad this has wrapped up so nicely. With much less tears than it started. Thanks for always being here for me, in this corner booth. Here are some pics from my weekend, since you couldn't make it. It’s a wrap!