Springtime. It's just one word, yet many thoughts are brought to one's mind when they hear it.
Springtime in the south of France is one of the loveliest times of the year. Flowers are blooming, trees are budding and everything is green. Because this is a semi-arid area, the summer months bring less of the color green and more of the earthy tones with splashes of color here and there. But for right now, green is on display for all to see.
On my daily walks, I have been struck by not only the new budding plants and weeds, but also by the textures that they display in our world. With the beautiful green weeds growing right alongside the wild roses or the quintessential red poppies of the South, one needs to stop and just look at the beauty that is found in the “texture” of the picture.
This image of texture in nature, causes me to linger on the correlation of texture that we find in our ministry to the international community here in the region. People from all over the world come to our city and it is quite an interesting and vibrate tapestry to view. Just sitting on our city tram and observing people, one can take in a myriad of cultures, languages and ethnic differences. Much can be learned about a culture by just sitting, listening and watching!
But for me, as much as I enjoy seeing the “texture” that is displayed by the people around me as I walk into the city center, nothing beats seeing the beauty showcased in the depth of “texture” as I walk through the doors of our church. That is beauty, my friend. Not because we have all the elements that make for grandeur or elegance in our facility. No, the beauty comes from those who walk through the doors with us. People from every tribe, nation and language, worshipping the Lord together. Unity in diversity… Beauty found in texture…
I have often described our ministry to others as a small glimpse of heaven. To me, it is a vivid image of the scene set in Revelation 7 where those who know Christ as their Savior will be found worshipping at His feet and around His throne - A myriad of people from every tribe, nation and tongue. What a humbling honor and extreme privilege to be able to catch a glimpse, if only just a dimly lit glimpse, of what God will see before Him on that day… beauty found in the “texture!”
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| Photo credit: Tiara Alexandra Coules |
