A New Canvas

Preface

Staring at a blank page, I begin to fill with excitement. I recently finished printing my first book called “Letting Go” and in Murphy style, I am on to this book, “Letting Go Too”. The page stares back and asks “now what?” I love that I don’t know because I have already learned that when I choose to “Let Go” something miraculous happens.

 I began writing my first book on November 21, 2007 after I opened up the shower curtain to hear God say, “today is the day you will begin to write”. Six years later a 66 page devotional was born. It is less than perfect, it is beautiful.

Today begins Day 67. The titles began streaming in about 3 am last night when my new puppy woke me up for “play time”. Imprints, His Prints, Footsteps, His Steps, Fade, Identity Thief, Girl Chat, Just Because, Owling, Strife, The Sleeping Dog, Broken Dreams, Pennies in my Pocket, Scratching the Surface, Flavor, The Bar Nap, Miss Mustard Seed, Quiet Desperation, Being Earnest, Playing it Safe and the list goes on.

I sit now at my kitchen table in Aldie, Virginia with my same little computer admiring tulips that are beginning to die, but still have beauty in every petal.  I am willing. I am able.

A quiet prayer sneaks in to ask for God to show up. And He will. I just have to trust. God doesn’t pick perfect people, He picks you and me. So here we go. Jump in and let’s take another ride on “Letting Go”.

 

Day 67 A New Canvas

Each day we write a new story. A blank page stares back. So many decisions. Do we go right, left, straight, forward or back? How do we decide? Who decides? We get stuck, stay in neutral. It feels safer than taking a risk. Yet there is no reward.

I wonder if that is what God did during creation? Imagine staring at a blank canvas called the world. He added blue for sky, green for trees, red for tulips and yellow for sun. Each color reminding us that blue is for sorrow, green for envy, red for sin and yellow for hope. Then he took a brush and made a zebra black and white, a goldfish orange, a canary yellow and best of all he made his people multi-colored.

The seasons were created and  became our guideposts. Winter for rest, spring for new life, summer for fun and fall for football (that’s for you Redskin fans!) Each day a new beginning. Each night an opportunity to restore.

It seems so simple. Straight forward. Yet, we all articulate life differently and it is in the knowing that we learn the difference.  The question to ponder is can we feel safe in not knowing? Do we need to see to believe?

Most of us would say that having faith means believing in things unseen.  I would say that believing can be seen in the miracle of everyday life. In people, plants that pick up when you water them, dark sky on Good Friday, ten toes and ten fingers, the hoot of an owl, the cancer that is cured, the marriage that is saved, the bee that stings, and the heart that beats.

So, what happens when we choose to believe that Jesus died for you and me? Do we get a free car wash or an ice cream sundae? Nah. We get eternity! A place where there are colors that have never been seen. Arms that are always open. Perfection. A canvas that has been permanently painted by our Maker.

Each day we get another chance to “Let Go” and see what God is up to. Sometimes that glass looks half empty but when we allow Him to fill us up, we are always sure to be full.