Finding a Masterpiece
Each summer I attend Bible camp with our church children. This became my happy place, when as a child, I gave my heart to Jesus, made lifelong friends and committed to a lifetime of service in God’s Kingdom. My desire is to give this gift forward. Many children recognize me from year to year. I am known to them as Pastor Gretchen. One summer, across the noise of excited campers and rolling suitcases on gravel paths, I heard, “MRS. ROONEY! IS THAT YOU?!” I turned and found a student from my school. He didn’t attend church in our local congregation and I had no idea he had Nazarene connections. A caring relative from another area felt compelled to finance this child’s trip to camp, so there we stood, surprised to find each other in an unexpected time and place.
Our camp theme was Masterpiece. The objective: Every child will know they are fearfully and wonderfully made in God’s image, loved and cared for above all else. We provided multiple activities and learning experiences so each child would encounter God’s personal interest in their unique and individual existence. Among these was the opportunity for everyone to paint their self portrait as a keepsake and remembrance.
At a chosen time, a hundred little artists began work with paper, pencil and paint. The activity leader guided them through the shape of their face and the placement of ears and eyes, etc. as was special to them alone. Toward the end of the process, my little friend from home became distraught, wadded up his canvas and begged to be released from the celebration of completed work. I heard a cry through thick summer air, “Mrs. Rooney!” I asked what was wrong and a teary voice said, “It’s awful.” I continued, “What made it awful?” “I can draw good, but I don’t have an eraser, my paint got mixed and there’s no more paper! I don’t want anyone to see it, it’s ugly!”
Indeed, his water colors bled together and his personal standard of artistry was not possible to attain on this day. As we sat down and talked about the reality of him versus the ‘disaster’ before us, we concluded he was the beautiful, miraculous image of the God that created and loved him. I asked if I could keep the picture so someday we could look at it again and remember how special we are, even when things are a mess.
Have you ever looked at yourself and known your reality wasn’t what was seen? It’s said we see the worst in ourselves or if we see something better than everyone else sees, then we’re egotistical, therefore sinful. I object, because the heart of a child taught be better. There is a once crumpled picture on my refrigerator that reminds me daily I must reconcile my self image to what God sees. When they are the same, I can see a Masterpiece.
“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23-24.
Find your Masterpiece.
Love,
Gretchen
