My friend Tina, from work,
went to a paint and wine event the other night. Each person got a small canvas
and had the opportunity to paint a picture as the leader gave some
instructions. Tina explained that she had a little trouble with the waterfall
and that her painting looked better from a distance.
We all examine things and
people too closely sometimes and don’t see them in their true light. Our foreheads
wrinkle up and our minds get a confused and possibly twisted picture.
I did that with a faux
wood sample I was working on. I got up right next to it and was seeing a really
light tan color as the base color. I tried to make my copy by starting with
that color. But no matter what paints and tints I mixed, I just couldn’t get my
copy to look right.
The next day I sat eating
lunch across the room from my sample and it hit me: I was looking at it too
closely! I needed to back up and see the big picture. When I did, I saw that
the overall base color was much darker than I’d originally thought. I started
with the new base color and finished my copy.
When I lived in Chicago I
liked going to the Art Institute and looking at paintings by Ivan Albright. He
is “noted for his meticulously detailed, exaggeratedly realistic depictions of
decay and corruption” (Encyclopedia Britannica). In his portraits he painted
every wrinkle, every hair, every pimple, every mole. His paintings were
fascinating, but kind of ugly and gruesome. He was looking too closely.
I’ve noticed that this
principle of narrow and intense examination can work negatively in real life as
well as in paintings. If we start looking too closely, we’re more likely to see
flaws and things we don’t like. If we back up to see the bigger picture, and
make more of an effort to see people the way God sees them, then we won’t see
all the little uglies that get our minds going in the wrong direction.
We only have the right to
see others as God sees them. We can’t make ourselves critical examiners. We
don’t know a person’s whole story. Our job is to be meek to God. If He shows us
some ungodly characteristics, it’s because He trusts we will at least pray and
perhaps do more as the Lord directs us to help them or even just get away from
them.
Jesus said, “Do not judge
others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat
others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be
judged. And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in
your own?” (Matt
7:1-3).
These are really powerful
words. If we are sick, or are upset about some problem at home and we come to
work or school and speak harshly to others, do we want them to judge us and
think horrible things about us? No. We want them to accept us, maybe pray for
us, forgive us and still think the best of us.
Jesus told us “The kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21). If
we can go to that place within and tap into the big picture of how God sees us
and others, that’s where we want to be. Our pictures will be true.
When Tina showed me a
photo of her painting, I was very impressed. I found out that it was her very
first painting. She did an awesome job.
When my wood-grain sample
was finished, the head designer came to look at all the samples we’d completed.
When shown the piece I did, the designer asked, “Is it real?” Well, in my
business, that’s the biggest compliment you can get.
I’ve tried to remember
this lesson at work as well as in relationships: Always take the time to step
back and look from a distance to see the overall picture. Treat people like you
want to be treated. Try to see people from the Lord’s point of view and let Him
deal with the dirty details. It’s not always so easy, but it’s what God wants
for us. This way of thinking will keep us humbler, healthier and happier.
Love, Carolyn
My sample books with 6-7
chapters each, are always ON SALE
for only .99 cents. Parts 1-4 and the holiday section (each with about 14
chapters) are only $2.99. I would love for you to have a copy of some of my
writing. Here’s the link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/search?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&index=aps&keywords=WINGS%20Carolyn%20molica&linkCode=ur2&tag=jmbcsds-20&linkId=XQMVLVZYNBLYAGEM
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