Some months ago I fell in love with a painting created by a dear friend. The painting is of a friendly, tubby tugboat tied up securely to a dock. The painting brought me great joy and I do believe that it is a wonderful work of art. I considered buying it, even placing a deposit on it. Somewhere deep in my soul, I felt that I needed to let that painting go as I wondered if it might have its own special journey. In a few short months, indeed my happy painting has begun quite a fascinating journey of its own. It has been highlighted specially in several exhibitions and has been used as a teaser for another. None of that would have happened if I had bought it those months ago. I think my painting has a unique purpose and journey unfolding and not yet fully known by any of us.
Sometimes I feel that my life is very securely tied up at the wharf. I do find myself straining at the ropes, thinking of exciting journeys out at sea. That boat in my painting is still tied up at the wharf, but somehow even so it is on an adventure of its own.
By the mystery of life I wonder if I too am on journeys that are not immediately obvious even to me as I am tied up by the responsibilities and limitations of my own earthly path. I deeply trust God that I am on the journey intended for me. Somehow by His mystery and Spirit, our lives tied up often have important and significant journeys beyond ourselves. Increasingly I want to let go of the hold and control of my own destiny, allowing His Spirit to uniquely give greater meaning and purpose to even the places where I may feel stationary and tied up. May God use the paintings of our lives in His ways to bring love and joy and peace to Himself and to all those unexpected others in our paths.
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