I recently came across this picture. I don’t know what sort of art you would call it, but it has a shiny texture and shows different aspects of the picture, in different lights and from different angles. Sometimes it focuses on the foreground with the fox, the tree stump, and the pool. Sometimes you recognize the whole depth of the picture as the trees disappear into the distance. It was a while before I noticed the fence. It’s a bit tricky to see in reproducing the picture, but the fence is there! The depth of the pool changes - sometimes it looks full, and at another angle it can look empty. The bank is reflected in the water. Did you see the fox? What is he/she up to? Trying to blend into the surroundings and go un-noticed? There is a gate in the fence giving permission for us to look deeper at what is beyond the fence. Not only is the gate there, it’s open! To me the picture is intriguing. The whole picture is there in front of us and yet, it holds so many dimensions.
As we face the year ahead of us, that too no doubt will hold many dimensions. We’ll be faced with surroundings that change. Some things and people even, will be there right in front of us and go unnoticed. We may have an opportunity to go deeper into something – work, a relationship, education, the opportunities are endless.
Life, at times, is daunting and beautiful and challenging and rewarding. The whole year will undoubtedly hold these things and more for us and, I don’t know about you, but I can tend to beat myself up about the things that are good for me but, for whatever reason, pass me by. It’s usually then that I remember that there is a fabulous community surrounding me – and you - who will walk with us through the year, come what may. And added to that there is a God who walks with us too, who says that he will never let go of our hands and is 100% there through the daunting and the beautiful and the challenging and the rewarding. I’ve found that’s an amazing blessing, especially in these particular times. Whatever it is that you may resolve to do this year, I simply pray that as you look at the bigger picture ahead of you, that you will know God’s blessing. God bless.
