God’s Etchings

Today the sun is shining, and weather.com says we’re going to break 60 degrees. Spring’s brilliant green is everywhere, and even my reluctant hostas are reaching for the sky. It’s difficult to believe that only 3 weeks ago we had a hard frost, the kind that feels like late October.

God's etching.When I climbed into the car that day, the view out my windshield was stunning, like God had put an exclamation point at the end of winter. I sat and stared at what looked like etched glass, the artwork of our Creator, wishing I didn’t have to turn on the defroster.

Of course my windshield wasn’t actually etched or cut into. It just looked that way. As I waited for it to clear, I thought about the process of etching (or engraving), which is meant to leave a permanent mark on something.

For example, when we bought a two-wheeled bike for our first child on his 5th birthday, the village hall suggested we engrave an identifying mark onto it so that if it was ever stolen and then recovered, we’d have proof of ownership.

Etched signatureAn artist of glass or stone often etches his mark, signature, or number into his work when it’s completed so no one else can claim it’s theirs. I have several glass sculptures with etched identification on them, and there’s no way these marks could be removed without marring the piece.

In Scripture God makes mention of a significant marking he’s made on himself in reference to us. One translation reads, “I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.” (Isaiah 49:16) He may not want us to take this literally, but his point is surely that we are inseparable from him. Once we commit our lives to him, he makes it permanent. And if we ever doubt it, he’s given us the etching visual to depict our close relationship to him.

One other Bible verse makes reference to etching, but this time God wants us to do it. He instructs us to learn all we can from him and then protect that wisdom. We’re supposed to guard the truth he imparts and keep it as close to our hearts as an etched signature is to a sculpture.

God's etchingAs for my windshield etchings, in just a few minutes they had morphed into rivulets of water and were gone. But my thoughts about God’s willingness to etch me on his hand made we want to etch him on my heart as a sign that nothing can separate us.

“My teaching is as precious as your eyesight—guard it!…. Etch it on the chambers of your heart.” (Proverbs 7:2-3, The Message)

Getting Ready

The yardOur son Hans and his family live in north England in a beautiful town that’s surrounded by rolling green hills. The moist, temperate climate is ideal for growing things, and each year Hans takes pleasure in making his own yard as beautiful as those of his gardening clients. He involves his children in the process and is teaching them how to nurture and nourish many different plantings.

IMG_0279As these youngsters help, they’re also getting Hans’ perspective on God’s integral part in all growing things. They’re learning the laws of sowing and reaping and are being taught that preparing, tending, and waiting are all part of a good harvest.

These Nymans have been preparing their yard for the growth of summer, but that’s not the only thing they’re getting ready for. Any day now their mummy, Katy, will labor to bring a new little somebody into this world. He or she will bring their brood to 5 children in 6 years.

Katy has prepared for the new baby by unpacking all the tiny clothes and other equipment, by cooking and freezing scores of meals ahead, and by mentally gearing up for the needs of a newborn.

Hans and Katy...Hans has been preparing, too, by rearranging bedrooms, painting the nursery, organizing for time off work, and giving Katy as much rest-time as possible.

Any project, plan, or possession that’s valuable is worth preparing for, and that’s especially true of new babies! Yet  as we go through life, all of our best laid plans can never be a sure thing.

The only planner who can be sure he has thoroughly covered all the bases and knows the exact outcome is God. We may have 20/20 vision looking back, but he’s got it looking forward, too. While we may only be able to guess at how things will go, he can be sure.

That’s why it’s a good idea for us to submit every decision to his guidance. The odds of disappointment go way down, and the probability of success skyrockets. Although God definitely wants us to have a part in preparation, counting the cost ahead of time if we can, the final result is up to him.

Gardener and assistantsKaty and Hans have been doing an excellent job preparing for their new baby, but exactly who he or she really is, is God’s special surprise. And the children have been helping Hans prepare the family garden, but even there, the growth is all up to God.

And so we’re left to walk that fine line between under- and- over- preparing, often not quite sure what it’s supposed to look like. Thankfully the Lord is eager to work with us either way, as long as we leave room for his perfect plans to fill in between our imperfect ones. That way, the end-result is bound to be good.

“Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.” (Proverbs 16:20)

Bubble-ology

Wow...Emerald continues to be fascinated with bubbles, her longest running passion by far. From the time she could follow an image with her baby-eyes, she’s loved bubbles. At her request we blow bubbles together every time she visits my house and haven’t missed a single day.

In little Emerald’s mind, bubbles are ever-captivating, always new. Today she was mesmerized by the barely audible “tih” they made when hitting the ground, bending low to listen.

Wanting to learn more, she stopped her normal never-ending chatter so she could hear the bubbles land, batch after batch. Then she tried to mimic that tiny sound with her lips. I don’t believe she’ll ever tire of bubble-ology.

Last week, though, I was as much in awe as she was over yet another discovery. We were blowing bubbles out on the deck when a gentle breeze ushered them toward a nearby evergreen. But instead of popping as they usually did when hitting the sharp branches, they actually landed, sitting on the needles indefinitely! It was remarkable.

Evergreen bubbles..

I studied Emerald as she studied the bubbles, having wonder written all over her face. Yet I couldn’t help but think of how many more astounding things there are in this world for her still to discover. Though she has absorbed a great deal in her two short years, there’s far more ahead.

And then I suddenly realized the same is true of me. As God was looking down at the two of us that day, ages 2 and 69, our level of knowledge was nearly identical by his standards. Actually, both of us are still like newborns in our learning, which isn’t a criticism of us as much as a compliment to him. Though I’ve learned more than Emerald so far, none of it amounts to more than the quiet “tih” of a popping bubble compared to what both of us are going to know in life after death.

Scripture gives us a word picture for all this. When we adults were Emerald’s age, we absorbed life differently than we do now in later years. (1 Corinthians 13:11) Paul says this vast difference between a child’s learning and a grownup’s is a good picture of the enormous difference between what we know in this world and what we’ll know in the next.

In our human existence we can’t possibly take in all God has for us to discover. But in our “glorified state” after death, we will immediately know completely. That’s Scripture’s promise, and it’s a marvel to eagerly anticipate.

AmazingAs for our pine tree bubble-phenom, I’m sure scientists could offer an explanation: barometric pressure, humidity, dew point, or something else. But Emerald and I don’t have to go after the “why,” because God will give it to us eventually. In the mean time, all we have to do is enjoy our amazing bubbles.

“Now I know in part, but then I shall know fully.” (1 Corinthians 13:12)