~A COLORFUL LIFE

In my last post I wrote about visiting at a church.  At the beginning of the service, a girl got up on stage to share.  I was really touched by what she had to say and by her compassionate and kind presence.  I don't recall the anecdote she related word-by-word, but I'll try my best to relate it...

She had recently been to a poetry reading at a coffee shop in downtown Raleigh.  Instead of sharing a poem, one attendee talked about a dream he'd had.  He would touch the wall, and it would turn red.  Then he'd touch the ceiling, and it would turn purple.  His touch caused beautiful colors to appear.  He touched the ground, and flowers sprang up.  The young woman went on to say that this dream reminded her of what Christ does in our lives.  To me, she was saying that He takes our lives and fills them with His light and life, making regular things beautiful.  She said that we all "have our own darkness," whether it be a job we don't like, or an illness, or whatever it may be that is an affliction to us.  However, Christ is there for His people to help them through the darkness.  This sweet anecdote really brightened my morning, and I thank her for sharing it. 

From reading Scripture and from observing the world around us, we know that sometimes Christ removes afflictions entirely, but if not (2 Corinthians 12:7-10), He will help us to handle them and to cope with them.  Moreover, He'll help us to handle them in a way that is pleasing to Him.

I can't help but think of a story I've recently read.  It's a story of amazing faith that reminds me to keep problems in perspective and to refrain from making mountains out of molehills.  It also teaches us that God can bring good out of anything.  In fact, some of our most beautiful gifts will be the result of trying times
(Romans 5:1-5 and 2 Corinthians 4:16-18)... 

A young girl of twenty years was afflicted with spinal meningitis.  She knew that her case was incurable, and that her life would be one of chronic invalidism.  A friend, calling on her, seemed to see the dark side only, and remarked in a commiserating tone, "Affliction colors everything in one's life."  "Yes," the young girl replied brightly, "but I choose the colors."

I'm also reminded of part of a song by Kenny Rogers entitled, "You Decorated My Life."  It's most likely a song about what another person can do in one's life.  We all know people and things can inspire us and enrich our lives.  However, when I heard the song, it made me think of what the Lord (the true Artist) can do in our lives...

Like a rhyme with no reason

In an unfinished song

There was no harmony

Life meant nothing to me

Until you came along

And you brought out the colors

What a gentle surprise

Now I'm able to see

All the things life can be

Shining soft in your eyes

And you decorated my life

Created a world where dreams are a part

And you decorated my life

By painting your love all over my heart

You decorated my life

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The Lord adorns the sky with rainbows in order to remind us of His covenant with the earth (Genesis 9:11-17).  Likewise, His touch infuses each of our lives with beautiful colors, reminding us that He has overcome the world (John 16:33), that He is with us (Matthew 28:20b), and that all good things come from Him (James 1:17).

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"You lifted him high and bright as a cumulus cloud, then dressed him in rainbow colors."
~Psalm 21:5, MSG~

"He has made everything beautiful in its time."

~Ecclesiastes 3:11a, NIV~

"We pray that you'll have the strength to stick it out for the long haul--not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives.  It is the strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us."

~Colossians 1:11-12, MSG~

"And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald."
~Revelation 4:3, NKJV~

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