(Had technical difficulties this morning. Hence the following, used before and no doubt seen by many, is still relevant in my life and perhaps others.)
“Make the most of yourself, for that is all there is to you.”~Ralph Waldo Emerson
A beautiful painting my parents commissioned at the time they were married (1946) held a prominent place in their home and now ours. Over time it’s appreciation was lost under layers of unwanted dust that covered the beautiful colors and strong brush strokes… making it a shadow of what the artist had intended. I had known for a long time that there was much beauty there awaiting rediscovery but life gets in the way of taking care of those things perceived as less important. It was denied its full appreciation and potential. Then it was professionally cleaned. What an astounding and beautiful difference!… the artist intended work restored and now fully appreciated again.
I had to wonder, are there layers of dust (sin, indiscretions, bad or unproductive habits even the good but wrong perceptions of where I could and should be) covering the true image my creator intended and wanted me and others to appreciate? Is it my time to do a major cleaning to restore what is REALLY there and important in the eyes of my Creator?
Furthering Emerson’s thought; when with the Lord’s help, we have ‘cleaned things up’ as far as we can, He then makes so much more of us than we can on our own. kdm
