Tuesday I attended the local National League of American Pen Women (NLAPW) meeting. I am a member and proud to be a part of this prestigious group. The group is not just for writers. It includes musicians and artists. Our local group is primarily artists.
The speaker, Mary McBride, is a curator for a local art gallery. She shared her own creative talent for quilted crafts and her "Bear" poetry. She also shared some insight she has about rejection. Most art galleries accept submissions to be displayed through a process called jurying. A jury, consisting of various artists, will review the submissions and choose the ones that should be exhibited.
Mary shared that most jury members judge others work according to their own style and preferences. Prejudicial? Yes. For example, one juror she worked with chose only art work that contained circles and lines. Another would refuse any art that had purple in it because she hated the color purple. Mary effectively opened our eyes to understand that most rejection of our work is due to the prejudice of the one who is in the seat of judgment, not the quality of our work. Whether it be a written work, art, or musical score, we place our work before someone with a preconceived idea of what is good. The truth is we all look through prejudicial eyes. People judge others by faith, color of skin, education and a host of other prejudices. It is a human flaw.
In contrast to our human frailty of judging unfairly and with a closed mind, God judges rightly. His rule is true and honest. He includes every good work done for His glory to be prized in heavenly halls. We can trust Him with our honest efforts of creativity. It is only our rejection of Him that will be judged harshly.
God The Almighty Judge, you are truth and your scales of justice are fair and righteous. I want so much to judge others rightly, as You do. I find that I fall short of that desire when I look through prejudicial eyes. Thank You for revealing Your love to me and help me to love others like You do. Lord, I remember Amy Grants' song "Father's Eyes." Let me see with Your eyes and judge rightly or not judge at all!
Showing posts with label artwork. Show all posts
Showing posts with label artwork. Show all posts
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Monday, September 13, 2010
Kaleidoscope
Kaleidoscopes present beautiful and amazing art from bits and pieces of varying sizes and shapes that are jumbled together. The beauty is revealed, not in the friction of the many pieces, but in the light that shines through them reflected by mirrors into the eye. In the same way people display Gods beauty when His light shines through us, even if we might rub each other the wrong way sometimes.
I do not always like the things my beloved husband of nearly 37 years does or says. He does rub me the wrong way sometimes. My little Dollar Store kaleidoscope reminds me to turn toward the light in those times. If I turn to Jesus, the irritations are seen in a new light and I can see the beauty of our marriage.
The light of Jesus reveals the truth. -Love covers a multitude of sins. -It is wise to hear both sides of an argument. -God created us male and female to compliment one another not to war against each other. -We are not joined together as man and wife to conquer each other, but to let God's light shine through us.
The same is true for any group to which we belong. Our family, church, work, and volunteer places all present opportunities for us as Christians to turn to the light, let it shine through us, and allow the light to make something beautiful.
The question I ask myself today is where am I to bring the light? Am I willing to turn away from the dark so that beauty and His glory will been seen?
God of wonder, You are The Light of the World! You are the maker of the kaleidoscope of my world. You are the light that makes even the wrong things in my life to turn into good. I am unable to see the good in others without You! I cannot even see good in myself without Your loving light revealing Your presence in me. Thank You, Father God, for choosing me as Your child and the sparkle in Your eye! You are so gracious and merciful to me. I pray that I might see Your light and turn to it in every circumstance! Make me a part of Your beautiful artwork today!
I do not always like the things my beloved husband of nearly 37 years does or says. He does rub me the wrong way sometimes. My little Dollar Store kaleidoscope reminds me to turn toward the light in those times. If I turn to Jesus, the irritations are seen in a new light and I can see the beauty of our marriage.
The light of Jesus reveals the truth. -Love covers a multitude of sins. -It is wise to hear both sides of an argument. -God created us male and female to compliment one another not to war against each other. -We are not joined together as man and wife to conquer each other, but to let God's light shine through us.
The same is true for any group to which we belong. Our family, church, work, and volunteer places all present opportunities for us as Christians to turn to the light, let it shine through us, and allow the light to make something beautiful.
The question I ask myself today is where am I to bring the light? Am I willing to turn away from the dark so that beauty and His glory will been seen?
God of wonder, You are The Light of the World! You are the maker of the kaleidoscope of my world. You are the light that makes even the wrong things in my life to turn into good. I am unable to see the good in others without You! I cannot even see good in myself without Your loving light revealing Your presence in me. Thank You, Father God, for choosing me as Your child and the sparkle in Your eye! You are so gracious and merciful to me. I pray that I might see Your light and turn to it in every circumstance! Make me a part of Your beautiful artwork today!
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