October 15, 2017

Sunday Devotional With Mr. E: Humble Materials

When I was working on my graduate degree, my focus was on creating visual texture in my watercolor  through different(and sometimes unusual) means.  I experimented with countless methods & materials.  I found one of my favorite things to use was plastic grocery bags.  They created interesting & unpredictable texture.  Once finished with a given piece...you could wash the plastic bag or just reuse it allowing the previous color to transfer on to the new work.  This humble material  can unfortunately find its way to a landfills, be used to dispose of animal waste, or be recycled (best option of the three).  In the hands of someone skilled, inspired, and willing to take a risk....a plastic bag can be as powerful a tool as the most expensive brush, masking fluid, or other tricks of the trade.  I often find myself looking at the "everyday" object & imagining its re-purposed potential.

Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called.  Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were of noble birth.  But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.  God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things- and the things that are not- to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.  It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God- that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.  Therefore, as it is written:  "Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord."  
1 Corinthians 1: 26-31

I am a people person.  I talk to anyone, anywhere, about anything!  I'm also a "student" of people, personalities, and perspective.  I find so many people that either think too lowly of themselves or too highly of themselves.  I won't get into the deeper meaning & reasons behind such things(that would be a very long post!), but do want to say that both result in a similar situation. People that are unable to be & do what they are meant to because there "stuff" gets in the way. We all come from a humbled state of sin.  We must recognize this, but not live in it.  That is a defeated life.  Right thinking starts with: realizing where we come from, who God is, what He has done for us, who we now are in Him.  This keeps us from living a defeated life & prevents us from thinking we're better than we are.  This place of "humble potential" allows us to be in a place to hear more clearly, step out in faith, trust in Him, and leave the results in His hands.  Our responsibility is to be available.  Are you?

3 comments:

  1. I really admire you for doing this! Thank you!

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  2. These ar every profound truth about the Christan view of self as a child of God. Thank you for venturing to write and post about true humility that comes from having a clear perspective! Keep on teaching , thinking about and making Art! Thank you!

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