Here are some thoughts of mine. I don't claim to be a poet or a writer of any sort, so don't expect much. :) Just click on one that sounds interesting and enjoy!
| This Day | Directions | You are Here | Artist | |
| Rollercoaster | Hardwood Floors | Everyday Graces | Sequel to the Lorax | |
| A Poem | Two Birds |
3-29-02
Again, I was sitting by the river discussing life issues with my God when I was hit with a thought. Consider for moment an artist. Not just any artist…a world famous artist. This artist is one in which most people have at the very least heard his name and maybe seen one or two of his works. But of course there are always those who have no interest in art and really don’t care who this guy is. This artist happens to be one of my best friends and is having a showing of his recent works. So I’m sitting there, looking at one of this artist’s works…and honestly, I’m rather baffled by it. I don’t understand it. The artist must see the troubled look upon my face for he approaches me and just looks at it with me for a little bit, saying nothing for a few moments.
“So, what do you think?” he questions. I hesitate…do I tell him the truth that I am rather baffled by this masterpiece, or do I just please him by remarking about how wonderful it is? He waits patiently by my side as I consider an answer. He must see the trouble in my mind at his question for he looks back at the work and just stands by my side quietly.
A sigh. Finally, I turn to him and say, “What is it? I don’t understand? I look at that piece over there of yours and it is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen! In fact, this gallery is filled with pieces of beauty beyond my imagination! But this one, well…I can’t figure it out. And honestly, I’m not convinced that I like it.” I watch him closely with my last words…I had tried to chose carefully, but I know he values what I say, and he knows when I am lying…he would’ve seen right through me had I told him I liked it. But now I fear that maybe I have hurt him.
Without even turning his eyes from his masterpiece he says to me, “Dear one, thank you for being honest with me.” A sigh of relief. Whereas I can hear the hurt in him, there is no anger. “However,” my breath again catches. “Just because you cannot understand it or figure it out does not mean that this is one of lesser value.” He looks at me, “In my mind, this is one of the finest masterpieces I have worked on. You may not see it and that’s ok, because I do. You see, you do not know what was in my mind when I was creating this one…you can’t see it the way I do. And because you can’t see it the way I do, you can’t understand it like I do and appreciate it for what it is. This one is just the way I planned for it to be, and I love it this way.”
You see, this masterpiece that this artist has created is me. I don’t see myself as a beautiful work of art. I don’t see why God made me the way He did. But tonight down by that river He clued me in. I have no idea what He had in mind when He made me like this. It doesn’t make sense to me and honestly, I’m not convinced I like the way I was made. I can’t see things the way He sees them, no matter how hard I try. He sees me as beautiful. His little girl. Even when I don’t feel like it, He loves me deeply. I look at others around me and see the beauty in them. And I know that that hurts Him, as does my outlook on myself. But He doesn’t get angry with me. He whispers gently to me in all the blessings of my life…in all the laughter and tears…in all the smiles and hugs…in the beauty of the earth that I enjoy…He whispers gently, “Dear one, I love you.” He doesn’t ask for me to have it all figured out or even all together…He just asks that I love Him back. I can’t change the Artist’s mind…and why would I want to? I don’t know what He has pictured for me, but I know it is beautiful beyond my limited and uncreative imagination. Looking at the artwork of myself with the Artist standing by my side makes it ok if I don’t understand it…for I know that He cared enough to make me…and in the end, what else really matters? My Savior’s love is all that I need…ever.
Again, I was sitting by the river discussing life issues with my God when I was hit with a thought. Consider for moment an artist. Not just any artist…a world famous artist. This artist is one in which most people have at the very least heard his name and maybe seen one or two of his works. But of course there are always those who have no interest in art and really don’t care who this guy is. This artist happens to be one of my best friends and is having a showing of his recent works. So I’m sitting there, looking at one of this artist’s works…and honestly, I’m rather baffled by it. I don’t understand it. The artist must see the troubled look upon my face for he approaches me and just looks at it with me for a little bit, saying nothing for a few moments.
“So, what do you think?” he questions. I hesitate…do I tell him the truth that I am rather baffled by this masterpiece, or do I just please him by remarking about how wonderful it is? He waits patiently by my side as I consider an answer. He must see the trouble in my mind at his question for he looks back at the work and just stands by my side quietly.
A sigh. Finally, I turn to him and say, “What is it? I don’t understand? I look at that piece over there of yours and it is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen! In fact, this gallery is filled with pieces of beauty beyond my imagination! But this one, well…I can’t figure it out. And honestly, I’m not convinced that I like it.” I watch him closely with my last words…I had tried to chose carefully, but I know he values what I say, and he knows when I am lying…he would’ve seen right through me had I told him I liked it. But now I fear that maybe I have hurt him.
Without even turning his eyes from his masterpiece he says to me, “Dear one, thank you for being honest with me.” A sigh of relief. Whereas I can hear the hurt in him, there is no anger. “However,” my breath again catches. “Just because you cannot understand it or figure it out does not mean that this is one of lesser value.” He looks at me, “In my mind, this is one of the finest masterpieces I have worked on. You may not see it and that’s ok, because I do. You see, you do not know what was in my mind when I was creating this one…you can’t see it the way I do. And because you can’t see it the way I do, you can’t understand it like I do and appreciate it for what it is. This one is just the way I planned for it to be, and I love it this way.”
You see, this masterpiece that this artist has created is me. I don’t see myself as a beautiful work of art. I don’t see why God made me the way He did. But tonight down by that river He clued me in. I have no idea what He had in mind when He made me like this. It doesn’t make sense to me and honestly, I’m not convinced I like the way I was made. I can’t see things the way He sees them, no matter how hard I try. He sees me as beautiful. His little girl. Even when I don’t feel like it, He loves me deeply. I look at others around me and see the beauty in them. And I know that that hurts Him, as does my outlook on myself. But He doesn’t get angry with me. He whispers gently to me in all the blessings of my life…in all the laughter and tears…in all the smiles and hugs…in the beauty of the earth that I enjoy…He whispers gently, “Dear one, I love you.” He doesn’t ask for me to have it all figured out or even all together…He just asks that I love Him back. I can’t change the Artist’s mind…and why would I want to? I don’t know what He has pictured for me, but I know it is beautiful beyond my limited and uncreative imagination. Looking at the artwork of myself with the Artist standing by my side makes it ok if I don’t understand it…for I know that He cared enough to make me…and in the end, what else really matters? My Savior’s love is all that I need…ever.