Two Sides of a Masterpiece

A large, beautiful tapestry hung in the long hallway of the house where I grew up. My parents purchased it while living in Berlin, Germany, as my dad took his turn serving our country in the United States Army in the 1960s. The front side of this work of art was a stunning scene of deer standing among snowy trees in the darkness. I thought it was beautiful. As a child, when no one was looking, I loved to run my fingers over the tapestry, feel the velvety threads, and see how the sheen of the nap changed depending on how I brushed the surface. Also, very curious about the backside of the wall hanging, one day, after getting up enough courage to loosen a corner, I glanced at the underside of the tapestry. I was amazed to find a smooth back with no stray threads and somewhat of the same image the front side bore, just a little duller in color. How was it possible, I wondered, to have perfection on both sides? I had expected to see wild patterns of knotted threads with no beginning or end. It was a masterpiece of perfection, certainly created by a master weaver.

Our lives are very much like a tapestry. Double-sided by design. On one side, the threads sometimes portray that perfect picture with smooth sailing, success, and satisfaction in life, known as the "lovelies" of life. If others could see, the back side would depict a different story. On the backside, which is unseen, are the struggles of life. There are bumps in the threading and chaotic weaving patterns, and the display looks disorderly, messy, and out of control. Here, our life tapestry indicates that sometimes life doesn't go as planned. Regardless of the side we are looking at, the question of "How can this be?" seems to surface. Sometimes, we ask this question in gratefulness for blessings that seem to come from nowhere. At other times, we ask this because, in all honesty, we are challenged by circumstances that send us over the edge, beyond our limits; we need answers. The sides of our life tapestry are not mirrored images. We are not master weavers, so the doubt and questions begin to surface.

"Lord, my life looks like anything but a tapestry. There is no exquisiteness here that I can see."

"You don't see it? I do. Your life tapestry is full of everything you are. I like what you are, so I only see perfection when I look at it."

"Okay," you reply. The front side may be okay. It's easy to give the appearance of having it all together—you know, surface stuff. But Lord, it's the backside I am worried about."

"Why does it worry you, my child?"

"Oh, for so many reasons, Lord. For starters, the thread work is full of inconsistencies, which causes the pattern to be quite unclear. It is very smooth in some places, yet in others, it is quite bumpy and covered with knotted threads. Loose pieces are dangling from the design. Some of the stray pieces have been broken and tied again to other strings to smooth the surface. Lord, it is not a pretty picture, not all of it anyway. For the most part, to me, it looks like a jumbled mess, certainly less than lovely."

'All that you say is true, my child, if you look at it through your eyes. But look again, through my eyes. When you see inconsistencies and an unclear pattern, now I see only beauty. This is when I did my greatest work in you. In your sadness, I mended you. When you were lost, I pursued you. When you needed it most, I extended boundless grace to you. The knots and seemingly mismatched strings represent the times I grafted you back into the vine because sometimes you wandered too far from me in your brokenness. I am always pursuing you, my child. Don't be surprised when I say this less-than-perfect side is more beautiful than the other. It represents my constant presence as I have woven your life thread by thread, piece by piece, for a glorious purpose.'

Knowing how God sees us should move us to deeper faith and from that faith to action. Can you trust God? Can you take Him at His word? Do not rush over those two questions. Ponder them, think about them, and decide. Can you? If so, will you? Regardless of how bumpy or smooth life is, He has made it plain that we are His masterpieces. He calls us to join Him in His purpose for our lives. Our imperfections are acceptable. They are required as He shapes us and completes everything he has purposed to do in our lives. Imperfection is where He always begins a masterpiece. You are not just a passive observer but an active participant in this process. Your role is crucial, and your contribution is significant. Will you join Him in this journey?"

I cry out to God Most High,

to God who fulfills His purpose for me.

Psalm 57:2 ESV