God's Fingerprints

I’m an artist.  I like to work on wood.  When I pick up a piece of wood, I look at the grain to see what God wants to show me.  I love knots with swirling grain going out in all directions.  I take my tools and start carving the rays of sunlight flowing out across the wood.  I may carve flowers soaking in the sun.  Other times, I will cut flowers from used tin cans and mount them on the wood.  

Sometimes, God leads me to carve ocean waves splashing on the shore and place tin boats sailing in the distance with the sun setting in the back.  Or maybe a mountain scene with hot air balloons floating through the air.  

I created a bowl for a friend for Christmas.  With the grain patterns, this bowl is one of the most beautiful pieces of art I have ever had the privilege of working on.  But I can’t take credit because it is a creation of God.  Just as we are, it is unique and one of a kind.  

God shows me birds perched on a fence or a caterpillar crawling along a leaf.  I take a picture and then paint the glory God created, whether it’s a cardinal in the snow or a full moon in the woods.  Or acrylic on canvas, watercolor, or pastel.  I paint the beauty of God’s creation.  He is the creator, and I try to be His publicist, promoting His work to the world.

So next time you pick up a piece of wood, a leaf, or a rock, look at the miracle you hold in your hand.  What do you see in God’s fingerprint?