Masterpiece

We live in a turn of the century home that had been condemned and abandoned for eight years. Thankfully for us, it was completely restored about ten years ago.  Although previously the eyesore of the neighborhood, it is now the gem, an amazingly beautiful blending of the old with the new. 

 No detail was forgotten.  The ceiling in our living and dining rooms, for example, was redone by a 70 year old man, the local expert in the field.  It was, in fact, his very last job before retirement.  The workmanship is amazing.  The entire surface is textured with swirling half circles that perfectly line up in every direction, and at certain times of day, it shows off the sunlight beautifully.  It is so amazing, in fact, that I have to wonder if this was his very best work, his magnum opus of sorts.

Which makes sense.  You spend your entire life developing your talent until towards the end of that life you finally complete your masterpiece.  I sometimes wonder if that's what the Creator was thinking when He created woman.  Yes, mankind was His last creation, but, technically, woman was the final beautiful masterpiece, the icing on the cake. 

Unfortunately, the enemy of our souls would love to destroy that beauty.  He would encourage us to tear it down with our own negative thoughts as we pick apart every detail of the Artist's work.  (My legs are too fat, my hair is too thin, my ears are too big, need I go on??)  Or worse, we compare the masterpiece that we have been created to be with the Artist's other works, as if we could compare a Monet to a Van Gogh!  Both have their own beauty, in their own way, just the way the Master Artist wanted it and created it to be. 

 I heard about an actress recently who had her highly recognizable nose "fixed".  She was lamenting the fact that now she looked like every other actress out there; there wasn't much to distinguish her from the crowd. 

I think, like viewing a painting, we need to step back and see the big picture.  Things are always blurry up close.  Details are messy.  There may be things that we consider to be imperfections, but are there by design.  These things provide the character and the differences that make life interesting.

  I just need to remind myself that I am an original work, a masterpiece created by the Master Artist.  And, even as He textures the corners of my eyes with the swirling half circles of new crow's feet (which line up perfectly in every direction!) I know, as I smile the smile He's given me,  they will help me show off the Sonlight beautifully.

The New Normal

After months of diligent effort and considerable financial outlay, I have, at long last, achieved my goal and received my reward...the Starbucks Gold Card.  After the whirlwind of excitement upon achieving said accomplishment and finally being able to take advantage of all the exclusive benefits, you can imagine my complete and utter discouragement upon discovering that I have....... a dairy allergy.  And, let's face it, what is coffee without the cream, the cafe without the latte??  Yes, I realize Starbucks has tea and (gulp) soy milk, but those things just don't provide the same comfort as a tall ristretto sugar-free cinnamon dulce breve latte with whip.   (Side note: my theory is that Starbucks fills a need in all of us formula-fed babies that breast-fed babies just don't understand.)

So, now I face the challenge of what I like to call 'The New Normal'.  Things are constantly changing, and we have to change with them or pay the price, whatever that may be.  I have to discover and, maybe one day, learn to love cheese-less pizza and coconut milk ice cream.  My son, who has been homeschooled since first grade, has to learn how to thrive in an online college classroom.  My daughter, whose friends are beginning to branch off with their significant others, has to find a way to meet new people, while maintaining her current friendships.  My husband, who is starting a new company at age 50, is discovering how to balance his current job, the new business and his many relationships with friends and family.  Even our little old dog, Piggy, who recently broke off several teeth, including the last of her canines, will have to learn to chew in the back.

I guess my point is that life is always changing, and always will change, no matter how much we want to stay in our comfort zones.  Kids grow up and move, aging parents pass away, jobs change, illnesses may come, and life is never static.  The key to a happy life lies in dealing with the New Normal.  One trick I've discovered is to set a goal to make it through the next two weeks. Just survive for two weeks.  For many of life's minor changes and challenges, two weeks is enough time to set new boundaries around that comfort zone.  Obviously, major life crises may take months or even years in which to adapt. 

Sometimes, you may even be hit on multiple sides of your comfort zone at once.  It's at these times, especially, that I've found that getting into the zone with the God of all comfort, is the only place where I truly find peace when life gives me lemons.  Ultimately, He leads me to the New Normal. 

Lemonade, anyone?

 

Ember

Imagine living in a city hundreds of feet underground, and not knowing it.  You believe you understand everything about this world, that you've seen it all.  Your community is lit by a thousand lamps by day which shut off promptly each evening at bedtime.  It never rains, but is a constant somewhat chilly temperature.  There seems to be nothing more to explore, and no hope for anything better.  Nowadays, however, the lights begin to flicker a little too often and even go out completely during the day for several moments at a time.  You begin to look for a way out...

Welcome to the City of Ember.  I think the reason I enjoyed this book so much is because, living in the Northwest, we dwell in our own type of Ember.  It is gray at least ten months out of the year, even if it's not raining.  Although we despaired of having no summer this year (like last year!) it finally arrived August 1st and has continued, so far, through mid-September as I write this.   In spite of this, even on this beautiful, sunny day, I find myself dreading what is surely to come.  I begin to look for a way out...

After much research, however, I discover that Phoenix is too hot, Florida is too humid, San Diego is too expensive and Eastern Washington is too far from my kids (they refuse to move there!)  So, the answer seems to be to settle in with my little blue light this fall (and winter, and spring and early summer...) and just deal with it. 

Recently, though, I've had the metaphor expanded for me even further.  The Pacific Northwest really isn't Ember; this world is. Tsunamis and earthquakes, tornadoes and hurricanes, bank failures and financial crises around the world are occuring with more and more frequency.  The lights are flickering. 

 Thankfully, the One who created this Ember has provided The Way out, and all who choose to follow will one day journey higher. For now, I strain to see past the flickering lights, constantly seeking the one true Spark that will lead us home.

Catitude

My cat, Bella, owns this neighborhood.  Her reputation as Rodent Hunter is known far and wide.  When other cats approach her, she quickly dispatches them, then has the gall to enter their homes to feast on their food!  Although our new puppy will often try to test her, she thwarts every attempt with a hiss and a quick swipe of her claws. 

The truly amazing thing about all of this is her size.  She is, by far, the smallest, most petite cat around, not to mention that she wears a sparkly pink collar with a bell on it.  Hardly a fitting image for one with the reputation and alias of Kitty Wahlberg.

This kitten has catitude, a word here which means that it's not the size of the cat in the fight, but the size of the fight in the cat that matters.  She has confidence. No fear.  Because she is always ready to engage, she frequently doesn't have to.  Or, only has to once.  I frequently catch her studying her reflection in the mirror.  Does she see something the rest of us do not?  Or is she giving herself a little kitty pep talk, "Think big to be big" or "You are more than what you have become." 

I don't know too many of us who can walk as tall as Bella.  Often, for me, I let my fears get in the way of everyday life.  Even mouse-size difficulties can seem overwhelming at times.  Is the answer just to see myself differently?  Or to study my reflection thoughtfully, while telling myself how great I am? 

Ultimately, those things will never help me overcome my fears.  Yes, it may make me temporarily more confident, but if I'm only trusting in my own strength, eventually I will come up against a foe that's too big for me to handle alone.

Thankfully, I don't have to.  I have my very own Lion of Judah standing with me.  And, whatever He doesn't scare away,  He will deal with decisively.  

So, I guess I can have catitude too, knowing that beside me is the biggest Cat of all.

Cinderella Stories

Why are the days of princesses and castles so romanticized?  In reality, who would yearn to go back to the days of outdoor plumbing, overpowering body odor and the once-a-year bath day?  

So, why do I love Cinderella stories? 

You know the kind.  A beautiful girl lost in the ashes of poverty, imprisoned by an evil one, living a life full of fear.  A well-meaning fairy cleans her up, dresses her in a pretty gown that's not her own, and sends her off to seek the love of the handsome prince.  And find it she does!  He loves her so much, in fact, it frightens her.  Feeling she is unworthy, and knowing she is not what she appears to be, she desperately flees his presence, leaving behind one small token of her hope. 

But, thankfully, the story doesn't end there.  The prince doesn't wait for her to  come back to him. No! He scours the kingdom looking for his beautiful lost one.  He knows and loves everything about her, from every hair on her head all the way down to her shoe size. 

Finally, just before all is lost, he finds her, seals her with a kiss and takes her away to his kingdom to live happily ever after. 

In essence, Cinderella stories are nothing more than an ancient tale retold.  A story created before creation itself.  Our Beloved finds us in the ashes and truly loves us.  Should we choose to run, He stops at nothing to search until He finds us.  Through His perfect love, we are changed and, eventually, taken away with Him to live happily ever after.

Why do I love Cinderella stories?  Because it's my story.

Dog Training 101

I wish I was more like my dog.  She's always upbeat and positive, energetic and enthusiastic.  She makes friends easily and forgives even easier. 

But, I guess the thing I like best about her is her willingness to be teachable.  I'm always a bit amazed each time she obeys a command.  The other day I asked her to stay, which she did immediately.  Then I promptly forgot all about her as I got distracted doing something else.  Finally, my husband pointed out that she was still "staying" although several minutes had gone by. Amazingly, she was waiting for my next command! 

I wish I could be more like that.  When my Master asks me to SIT at His feet, why do I impatiently explain that there is so much to do today and I just don't have time?  Why don't I instantly obey when He asks me to STAY out of sin, or STAY in His will?  When will I learn to HEEL beside the Master instead of running off to chase squirrels, or, worse, pulling ahead of Him rather than letting Him lead?

Maybe one day I'll be more like my dog.  But, right now, I'm thankful I don't have to be that perfect.  He knows I'm in training and He accepts me right where I am. So, for now, I'll just COME to my Master and LIE DOWN at His feet. 

Rose Garden

My white rose bush bloomed only once this summer, yielding three perfect red roses.  For eight years, it has dutifully produced white roses, but this year it must have decided it had had enough.  It was time for a change.

Sometimes in life, we get thrown a curve ball, something we just weren't expecting.  Like finding a red rose where a white one should be, it may be a beautiful surprise. Or, it might not.  You might walk outside to find that your white roses are covered in some sort of black spotted fungus.

Life is not linear.  Today may look like yesterday, but that doesn't mean tomorrow will bear any resemblance to it. The question is, should I accept only blessings from the Master Gardener's hand? Or, am I willing to trust that His ways are not my ways, that His will is not my will? 

 My response is the important thing. Do I rejoice with the good, but fall apart when I find the...well, not so good? 
 I may plant, fertilize and water rose bushes every day, but that doesn't mean I will always reap what I have sown.  The aphids may still take over and the lady bugs, that I bought to fight them off, may decide to fly off to greener pastures, or, eh, rose bushes. 

So, what is the proper response to life's surprises?  Do I just give up, since I can't really control anything?  Or is all of life just a moment by moment reminder that there's Someone bigger behind the scenes, a Master Gardener with a master plan.  And, if I just keep tending the garden, eventually, I will see His hand.

Perhaps, a red rose blooming on a white rose bush is just His gentle, loving way of saying, "Trust Me, I've got this covered."