The Great Painter

   As a little girl, I remember driving in the car, looking out the window at the scenes going by. As the leaves would change color, she would tell me about the Great Painter. In my mind, I imagined someone cradling each leaf in their hand and applying paint ever so gently. Each leaf a unique creation of art. The leaves are starting to turn again, and with that my thoughts turn to the Great Painter. I am looking forward to seeing the creation of color again, the blending of reds, yellows, oranges, and browns with smatterings of late greens.

   Times whiz by, seasons slip past just like the scenery out that car window. It can go so quickly. It is important to pause and consider the art around us.

Layers

Panes of glass stack up with painted layers between.  A delicate theme prepared on the bottom layer has grace and strength in it.  More layers are added, delicate baby colors, colors of little league teams, band uniforms, and school colors.  Collegiate layers are added, scripts of text painstakingly prepared in notes.  Adulthood layers are added with heavier tones of responsibility.  Choices add more layers, choices that the individual has made, choices that have been made which affect the individual. 

The first layer, many presume it is lost in the midst of the other layers.  The delicateness belies it’s persistent strength.  Like a ray of light which is shown through, the shadow reflects from the first layer onto the others, leaving an imprint. 

Hope, truth, love, shining onto the layers, shone from God onto his children, where the delicate cords of grace are prepared for them.  The layers continue to add.  But in each, there are additional ways that grace is shone through.  

Aspirations of Normalcy – Really?

Sit for one TV show and you will watch several breaks of commercials.  Obviously, they are commercials and therefore by nature designed to compel you to purchase, go, or act in a certain fashion.  Buy this outfit, fix your hair like this, drive this car, fit in – be normal.

But, what is Normal?  Should I really aspire to be normal?  Should you?  I have my own sense of who I am and who I can be.  Imagine that you are standing in a gallery filled with beautiful paintings.  Each is unique, each is different though there are similar themes found in many of them.  There paint has been mixed to fit just that canvas perfectly, blended by a deft hand and applied in a masterful way.  Lighting has been arranged to catch the best of each of the paintings.  Carefully hung, each is unique as you stroll past.  Now, imagine that this gallery is really the sidewalk of a street.  Each person you meet is a carrying a painting in their arms.  Each one is a unique work of art by the Master artist.  Unique, and I’m aspiring for normalcy?  Nope – I don’t think so!  I’m aspiring for something extraordinary.  How about you?

The Great Painter

Ever since I can remember, every fall I have heard the story of the Great Painter. Every fall, the leaves slowly change from their chlorophyll full green to their real shade of yellow, red, orange, and tan. The Great Painter paints each leaf; each is its own work of art – unique and special. If the leaves stayed green, we would miss the colors of fall.

Life changes too, colors of transformation. I think about ten years ago, 5 years ago, or yesterday. Each day is unique; each is its own piece of art. I can think of some days that are kind of orange, filled with warmth. They remind me of days with fire rings, low bonfires with potatoes roasting in the coals, a pile of marshmallows ready to be licked by flames and caramelized.

The yellow leaves, sunny in color are some of my favorites. Like bits of sunshine caught all the way into the cell walls of the leaf, they hold color of sweet Indian summer days, holding bits of tantalizing warmth. I’ve had some yellow leaf days, days that are full of brightness, laughter, and friendship.

Caught on misty wet sidewalks, the tan leaves stick to the concrete. They are the misty, rainy days that declare it is necessary to grab a soft blanket and go back to bed. Candle light, a fire in the stove, sweatshirts, and warm soup are all needed on the tan days. Tan days are the blah, ho-hum days. There may be some tears, there may be some wishing for different colors. These are also the days to be thankful for the other colors.

As the Great Painter paints the leaves, and the days – I’m hoping for lots of orange and yellow days, but know that there will be some tan days as well. After all, how could they orange and yellow be as sweet without them?