Previous Challenge Entry
Topic: Design (01/19/04)
TITLE: Can You Give Me a Hint? By Mary Elder-Criss 01/22/04 |
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT SEND ARTICLE TO A FRIEND |
By: Mary Elder-Criss
In my file cabinet is a special folder, full of homemade birthday cards, Mother’s Day cards, Valentine’s cards, and pictures. Each one of these was painstakingly crafted by one of my three children, some adorned with lace, or stickers, or glitter, or simply drawn with crayon. Several of them feature slightly lopsided hearts, or flowers, or even a drawing of me, which often resembles a Vincent Van Gogh impressionistic style. These creations, perhaps not deemed valuable by anyone else, are priceless to me. Whatever the occasion each was designed for, regardless of its content or purpose, only one thing motivated it. It was constructed simply to convey the creator’s love.
However, I must admit that there are times when extreme tact is called for when one is presented with a card or picture drawn by a very young child. I have, on more than one occasion praised a drawing of a cat, only to be solemnly informed that it was a tree. I have found that the best way to deal with an unknown entity in a drawing, is to praise it generically. One should identify what one can, and let the creator fill in the blank; “These flowers are lovely, Erin, and that is a _________?”
Sometimes God’s design for my life seems an awful lot like homemade birthday cards drawn by my children. I can identify parts of what He is doing, and even praise Him for them. However, in other instances, I find myself holding out the paper my plan is drawn on and questioning; “This part right here was lovely, God, and this is a ____________? Can You give me a hint?”
I thought I had identified God’s design for my life four years ago, when I felt Him calling me into a writing ministry. Excitedly, I jumped full force into pursuing a free lance writing career. Visions of my name on the best seller list and autograph signing parties swam in my head like sugarplums. My excitement, however, quickly waned in the face of the reality of composing endless query letters, researching periodicals and writing guidelines, and of course, receiving many more letters of rejection than acceptance.
Yesterday, I woke to the realization that I was another year older, and still seemingly unsuccessful in what I had been attempting to create. The blueprint that I had been holding from God still had me puzzling over certain areas. Reflecting upon former failures, and wondering if this was even worth pursuing any longer, I became increasingly full of discouragement and despair.
Then the Lord laid these verses from Isaiah on my heart for me to meditate on. "Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." Isaiah 43:18-19.
As much as I would like to sit down with God, and have Him identify for me all the areas of my life, which are puzzling to me, I know that ultimately I just have to trust. I have to realize that past failures, or past successes are just those, former things. I cannot live my life dwelling on them, but instead consider the new things that He is planning, and realize they are for my good. Whatever direction He leads me in, regardless of whether it is easily identifiable to me or not, may I remember that He is still the one capable of creating a way where there seems not to be one. May I remember that His design is flawless, even if I can't always identify parts of the picture.
Copyright 2004