Wise people are builders — they build families, businesses, communities. And through intelligence and insight their enterprises are established and endure. <\/em>\u00a0Proverbs 24:3, The Passion Translation<\/p>\n\n\n\n God did not make photocopies. He made originals to reflect and represent a sacred part of himself in a unique way.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n My kids create. It seems to me that healthy, growing, childlike people create. Sitting with my youngest daughter\u2019s kindergarten teacher for our first-ever parent-teacher conference we were excited and nervous to hear what our daughter was like outside of our home.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n We learned that when she has a coloring page she will always do something a little extra to make it her own. A picture of a fish? She will color it in and then add her own details. Maybe some more fish, or a crab. Maybe the top of the ocean with a boat on top.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Other kids will see what she created and ask me to help them make theirs like that too.<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Our daughter, at five, creates, and it inspires others to be brave with their art also. I imagine the creator of the coloring page thoughtfully creating each page wondering with joy and anticipation how each child will make it their very own. A pink fish? Rainbow water? <\/p>\n\n\n\n In life I believe we are each given a line drawing, a simple sketch of an idea of what our life could be, and we are invited to color it in, adding details as we go that come from our own heart and imagination. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I know that this makes God smile.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n I saw some art recently that was technically perfect. The detail was incredible. It was watercolor, and my only experience with watercolor is a very free-flowing dreamy look. This particular art, however, was p.e.r.f.e.c.t. <\/p>\n\n\n\n And I almost liked it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I really wanted to like it. Why didn\u2019t I? It bothered me for quite a while. There was no reason not to like this art. Finally, it came to me. It was perfect, but there was no passion. The artist kept all the colors in the lines but never added any heart or passion. I could feel the cold perfection of the art, but it did not make me feel what one would usually see when looking at such a stunning sunset. Warmth, love, and peace was missing.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n What is the outline God has declared over you? <\/p>\n\n\n\n Mother or Father?\u00a0Tax Accountant?\u00a0Pastor?\u00a0Author?\u00a0Friend?\u00a0Leader? <\/p>\n\n\n\n With that sketch in hand, remember the goal is not to perfectly match what another with a similar page might create, but to take that sketch, and use your colors, your ideas, your strengths, and your vision to complete the picture.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n We seek God\u2019s heart, learn his ways, and as ourselves pour that out onto the coloring paper of life before us. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This is worship. This is faithfulness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t replicate what is around you, or focus too much on staying within the lines of the calling or ideal of someone else that you never pour your heart into the work of art that is your life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What are you creating? <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n
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