It was 1985
when I walked into my 7th grade Bible class. I sat down at my desk to find
seven words written in pencil in the top left corner. Those seven, cruel words
were written about me and deeply and permanently seared themselves into my mind
and heart. I immediately got out my eraser and wiped them from my desk, but I
have never been able to erase them from my memory. Being an insecure, lonely,
friend-starved, and hurting junior higher, those carelessly written words
solidified what I felt about myself and had a profound impact on my ability to “get”
the concept of the adoring love of Jesus, even into adulthood.
Not until five years
ago did my belief begin to change. It was year two of Art Prize (a local art
festival that I have fallen in love with and that draws worldwide visitors to
the Grand Rapids area for several weeks each September and October). That
Friday evening was one of those nearly unheard of times when my house was
completely silent. My kids were all in bed, my husband was working and I had
some time to just be.
Instead of turning on
tunes or the TV, I decided to check out the Art Prize website and plan my
adventure for the following weeks. As I was silent and perusing, I heard from
my right side and slightly behind me, the words “You are my Art Prize”. WHAT?!?!? Did I just hear what I think I heard??? I
responded by saying out loud, “God, was that YOU?” I was in complete and utter awe as I sat
there- stunned.
We are Saturday
nighters at Ada Bible and so the following evening we headed to church for part
three of the series “People of the Way”. The teaching was about who we are in
Christ. Jeff closed the message by
putting a picture of a previous Art Prize entry on the screen and said…
“Remember, you are His masterpiece. You
are His Art Prize”
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?!?!?
Needless to say, the
floodgates opened and my heart broke. Yes, the Artist had indeed spoken those
words to me. The Potter gently reminded this broken vessel that I was His art
work, His creation and His masterpiece and that I was not what those seven words had echoed in my heart for all those
years.
What I have come to
realize was that the Artist spoke when I was quiet and still. He spoke when my
heart was at rest. He spoke when (nearly) all other distractions were gone.
He spoke and I heard when we were
alone…together.
~Sarah Bennor
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