I love the St.Louis Art Museum. My eleven year old son Joshua and I have been "regulars" ever since my daughter,Rachael,started a class at Washington University. We drop her off and head for the museum. We know the security guards and the cafe workers. We know when they move things around-"Hey, where's the Degas dancer??". They move things around a lot. We feel free to give our opinions. "I think the Chagall works better in the other room." And then we go to the coffee shop and get a muffin.
Sometimes we get to see workers unload a truck of wooden crates-art waiting to be displayed on walls that have been prepared specifically for each piece.
Plain wooden crates. What's inside I wonder. Beauty to delight my eyes? The pain of a primitive culture in transition? Beauty or ashes. Life or death. Someday our plain crates will be opened and what's inside will be revealed. The Creator will look upon us. He is preparing a place. I am reminded that it's what's inside that counts.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Without Power
I've been without power since Saturday. Literally and figuratively. Just feeling tired and middle aged. Not that it does any good to complain about age... I wish I could say "that's when I realized that I needed to get back in 'The Word'." Did I get my Bible out and receive fresh nourishment from God himself? No. When I'm discouraged I run helter skelter searching for comfort and escape. I crocheted two scarves and I haven't picked up a crochet hook since junior high. I even read my daughter's copy of In Touch magazine to see what the celebrities were wearing! I didn't see any crocheted scarves... They need Jesus, but so do I. So do I.
Tuesday, January 2, 2007
Letting Go
Letting go. So often that means a heart attitude, a willingness to release something that I have been holding on to such as unforgiveness, anger or bitterness. Sometimes I hang on with clenched fists, fingers coiled tightly around some object or idea like a little one holding on to the string of a kite on a windy day.
Our family received news through a Christmas letter that friends of ours, Stacey and Erich Pratt lost their precious two year old boy Luke to a drowning accident this past summer. The letter alerted you immediately to the tragedy by a picture of Luke with 2004-2006 written under his name-Luke Alyn Pratt. My first thought was that maybe there was some other explanation, some other reason for those dates, but upon reading the letter, there was no mistake. Erich kindly informed all of us on their Christmas list what had happened. How their little one was last seen throwing a baseball- wearing the baseball glove on the wrong hand- and giggling. Erich went on to say that God has used Luke's short life in countless ways. Teens in the church youth group were reminded of their mortality and many have given their lives to Jesus as a result. A couple whose marriage was in trouble started going to church together and the list goes on. In this age of financial concerns- the cost of college, etc.- the Pratts are unusual. They have dared to have as many children as God would give (and Stacey's petite body can handle). Luke was eight of nine beautiful children. Andrew, the baby was two months old when his big brother went to be with the Lord. They are determined to let God use this loss in whatever manner He chooses- without anger, without bitterness. They are looking ahead. Love has risk. Sometimes we have to let go and trust God. Sometimes that's all we can do.
Our family received news through a Christmas letter that friends of ours, Stacey and Erich Pratt lost their precious two year old boy Luke to a drowning accident this past summer. The letter alerted you immediately to the tragedy by a picture of Luke with 2004-2006 written under his name-Luke Alyn Pratt. My first thought was that maybe there was some other explanation, some other reason for those dates, but upon reading the letter, there was no mistake. Erich kindly informed all of us on their Christmas list what had happened. How their little one was last seen throwing a baseball- wearing the baseball glove on the wrong hand- and giggling. Erich went on to say that God has used Luke's short life in countless ways. Teens in the church youth group were reminded of their mortality and many have given their lives to Jesus as a result. A couple whose marriage was in trouble started going to church together and the list goes on. In this age of financial concerns- the cost of college, etc.- the Pratts are unusual. They have dared to have as many children as God would give (and Stacey's petite body can handle). Luke was eight of nine beautiful children. Andrew, the baby was two months old when his big brother went to be with the Lord. They are determined to let God use this loss in whatever manner He chooses- without anger, without bitterness. They are looking ahead. Love has risk. Sometimes we have to let go and trust God. Sometimes that's all we can do.
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