Patience Is a Virtue

"You are God's chosen people, God's saints; God loves you, and you should be clothed in sincere compassion, in kindness and humility, gentleness and patience."

Colossians 3: 12

My uncle sent me an e-mail with these incredible pencil sculptures! This one really caught my eye.
It stirred a whole rush of thoughts:

What amazing detail! How much patience did that take? Someone took the broken and useless and made it into something so beautiful!


I did a little research to find the artist. He is Dalton Ghetti of Bridgeport, Connecticut. He has been carving pencil sculptures for over 25 years. He doesn't use a magnifying glass; just a sewing needle, a razor blade, a pencil and lots of patience. One piece can take up to two years! And his sculptures are not for sale - it is his passion and his hobby. When asked about the process Ghetti said, "when I tell people how long it takes, that’s when they don’t believe it. That’s what amazes people more, the patience. Because everything nowadays has to be fast, fast, fast.”
Read more about his work at: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/11/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/11ctpeople.html?_r=1


We want immediate, quick answers to our struggles. In our despair the problems seem overwhelming and we grow weary of the fight. It's hard to see what God has planned for us. We just want to give up sometimes.

But oh, what patience can achieve! Look closer at the picture: The pencil is broken, splintered and useless. But in the heart - there is the treasure! Isn't that what God does in our life? We can not see the end results. We don't know what the final masterpiece will be, so we need to persevere in patience. It may take more time than we expected. There may be parts that need to be carved away. But God will take our broken, splintered life and transform it into something wondrous. The Master Sculptor has planned a beautiful work of art in each of us!

God of Transformation,
Grant me patience and peace that You may work your great plan in me. Help me remember I am your work of art.

Amen

The Still Small Voice

"And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire...a Still Small Voice." ~I Kings 19: 11 - 12

We seem to look for the big, flashy "miracle" moments to tell us God is in our world. We pray and pray for answers, then are sure that our prayers were never heard. We don't see the every day blessings all around us! We cry out for help, and fail to see the hand extended from others. We convince ourselves that God doesn't care - or worse yet, doesn't exist! We forget about all the people caring and praying for us!
We don't listen for the Still Small Voice. Just as there are none so blind as they who will not see; so too are there none so deaf as they who will not hear. Sometimes we just have to be still so we can hear God whisper to our hearts.

My personal experience:
Two years ago when a deadly infection was building in my body I went to the care clinic. Given antibiotics and told to go home, I followed instructions but things got worse and worse. The infection was reaching critical mass. Couldn't eat, couldn't sleep, fever spiking over 100. And as I lay on my bed - I heard the Still Small Voice. Very calm and clear - I heard, "If you lay there, you will die." My daughter took me to the hospital. It took three surgeries, a week in the hospital and three months of intense home nursing and many more months to recover my strength. Prayers from friends and family and nursing care from my loving family made it possible. But I am ever thankful that God chose to tell me directly what to do!
Can you imagine that?!? Me - I got to hear the Still Small Voice!

God of Healing,
Keep my heart and ears open so I may hear when You whisper my name. Amen