Friday, June 15, 2012

Paint and Perfection





I don't know if it is my love of abstract art, but I simply adore Jack's paintings. One of my students works at a pottery place, and she told me I wouldn't believe how many kids come in with parents who refuse to let the little ones put paintbrush to pottery. 


"They'll mess it up...Right?"


I guess it depends on your definition of "mess."


When did we get so caught up in perfection that we forgot what perfection is?


But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me (2 Corinthians 12:9). 


In all the messups and missteps of life, we can be glad. When our brushwork goes outside the lines, we can boast. Why?  Because though we make mistakes,  we were made by One whose power is beyond our imperfection. 


 "Pied Beauty"
by Gerard Manley Hopkins
GLORY be to God for dappled things—
  For skies of couple-colour as a brinded cow;
    For rose-moles all in stipple upon trout that swim;
Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls; finches’ wings;
  Landscape plotted and pieced—fold, fallow, and plough;        
    And áll trádes, their gear and tackle and trim.
All things counter, original, spare, strange;
  Whatever is fickle, freckled (who knows how?)
    With swift, slow; sweet, sour; adazzle, dim;
He fathers-forth whose beauty is past change:        
                  Praise him.

Jack's art is lovely to me, and I am lovely to my Creator, whose "beauty is past change" (l. 10). And though He calls me to try to be more like Him every day ("Be perfect as I am perfect," says Matthew 5:48), I'm thankful that God loves me, not despite my flaws, but flaws and all.


this post is linked up with
Beholding GloryLife In Bloom
friday favorite things | finding joy

 




13 comments:

  1. This is such an encouraging post...a beautiful analogy! I love the way you ended it. Called to try to be more like Him, but He still loves me, flaws and all. I couldn't have said it better!

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    1. Yes, because we can never use His love or grace as an excuse to keep from growing, but when we fail, we have to know His love is there always!

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  2. Love it! Love everything you said, but Jacqui said what I was thinking. The look on his face as he concentrates is just precious, too.

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    1. Thanks! He's a sweet blessing and teaches me so many lessons.

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  3. Thanks for stopping by my blog! I just finished writing something similar for a guest post I'm doing! Looking forward to reading more from you!

    Mary Beth
    newlifesteward.com

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  4. I guess it does depend on your opinion of mess. Personally I like my 'mess'. Without I wouldn't be half the person I am today and through I was fortunate enough to know the Lord as my Savior.

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    1. "I know all the wrong turns and stumbles and falls brought me here," Ben Folds sings.

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  5. I literally got tears in my eyes reading this because I am one of "those" parents who fear messes. :( I hate that about myself and desperately want that to change. I have been making small strides in that and am getting better. But that BEAUTIFUL poem reminded me that to the eye of the perfectionist God's creation could appear "messy" - when, in fact, it is beautiful. Maybe I need to start viewing my home in the same way. Thank you for this incredible lesson. I feel as if my eyes have been opened to something fresh and new. Hopping over from Life In Bloom. A Little R & R http://jukiczr.blogspot.com

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    1. Since our condo is on the market, we have to clean and clean and clean. I've never been one to mind the mess until now. And remember that a clean house can bring a lot of comfort to your family, so you can experience some messes together and THEN clean them up together too!

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  6. Amen. I've been struggling with things NOT being perfect, forgetting he is the one who makes all things perfect, in his time. Thank you for that reminder of that verse that perfect is in our weaknesses. Visiting from Thankful Thursday.

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    1. Glad to share. And thank you for the comment!

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  7. just beautiful! thank you for sharing!

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