Dear Friends,
This last Christmas I received a gift from one of my sons and his family, it was a paint-by-numbers kit. I had asked for one, thought it would be fun to paint some day when I had the time…not really knowing when that might be. Lol! It’s a lovely picture of an Italian Bistro with a terra cotta tile road, an outdoor fruit stand and a lot of brick and stucco in this Italian village. I’ve been fortunate to have gone to Italy so this painting has memories for me, but when I saw this picture I thought I would never have the time to finish it! But I went ahead anyway and opened up the box and saw the paint board, it looked like a blob of chicken scratching with a plethora of tiny little numbers and letters that could barely be seen with the naked eye where the color of paint was to be placed. Then guess what… I found myself having all the time in the world on my hands, so April 17th I began this adventurous journey into my paint-by-numbers!
Looking at the paint board without any color on it made it very difficult to see the picture past all the lines. I would spend many hours painting tiny little spots and for the longest time it didn’t look like anything at all let alone the finished picture. And at some point I started to connect it with my life. Isn’t it true, we can’t usually see down the road very far of what life will be, we know what we dream or assume it will be but life has a way of taking detours.
There was a time in my life when I couldn’t see the road before me at all; I spent much time in prayer and discernment, but I was struggling with trusting God fully to show my which way to turn. During this time, God placed a scripture in my heart. It was Jeremiah 29:11-14, it says…
11 I know the plans I have in mind for you, declares the Lord; they are plans for peace, not disaster, to give you a future filled with hope. 12 When you call me and come and pray to me, I will listen to you. 13 When you search for me, yes, search for me with all your heart, you will find me. 14 I will be present for you, declares the Lord, and I will end your captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have scattered you, and I will bring you home after your long exile, declares the Lord.
This passage gave me great comfort, as God was calling me to trust. Trust the path that I could not see and to trust that God’s love for me was to bring me hope and a future. A dear friend of mine during this time shared a Quaker saying with me, “Proceed as the way opens…” We find ourselves in uncertain territory and it’s difficult to see the path before us during this time of quarantine but God has given us hope. Hope in the One who loves us beyond our understanding, trusting to give us peace and a future.
So, just as my painting begins to take form so shall the way forward during this long moment in our lives. God wants to fill our hearts with peace, hope and a future.
In closing I offer you this prayer from St. Francis of Assisi, “Lord, help me to live this day, quietly, easily. To lean upon thy great strength, trustfully, restfully. To wait for the unfolding of thy will, patiently, serenely. To meet others, peacefully, joyously. To face tomorrow, confidently, courageously. Amen.
Blessings,
Brenda