The Touch of the Master's Hand

I know this may seem like a rather inane thing to write about after not writing for so long, but I believe there is more to the story than at first meets the eye.  Another marvelous work of art by the master artist Leonardo da Vinci has been discovered.  It is the beautiful portrait of a young woman, aptly entitled La Bella Principessa, or, in the modern English vernacular, The Beautiful Princess.  The drawer of the masterpiece was discovered not merely through the typical examination of technique and artistry, but it was something much more compelling that caused art experts to declare it a pukka work of art attributed to da Vinci.  A finger and palm print were found on the drawing, prints that matched others on known works by da Vinci.  The indisputable evidence of a fingerprint caused the painting's value to suddenly jump from around $19,000 to somewhere in the neighborhood of $150,000, solely because of who created it. 

Seeing the article on the drawing got me to thinking that this story could be more than just one of misplaced credit for the creation of a chalk, ink, and pencil drawing.  I've been told that since God the Father is the King, it makes me a princess, a princess like the one in the picture.  What gives me my value?  The fact that God the Master Artist has left his fingerprint on me in the process of creating me and I am His.  Were the drawer of the portrait merely a "common" artist as had previously been thought, the drawing's worth would have been very minimal.  It is because of who masterminded it, sketched it, and brought it to fruition and life that changed everything.  So many times our existence as human beings is attributed to chance and Mother Nature.  However, God's fingerprint in the design and beauty with which He created us is a clear mark and unmistakable evidence that we are his workmanship and, because of that, we are priceless. 

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.  When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body.  All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

Psalm 139:13-16

Life, Love, and the Pursuit of a PhD

I am currently at a time in my life where the choices I make very well may influence the course that the rest of my time here on earth takes. Do I find a job? Which job? Do I go to grad school? Which grad school? Do I stop after my M.S. or continue on to get my PhD? Sometimes the choices seem overwhelming.

I need to stop racing forward and simply pause and breathe at times like these. At times like these, I need to go back to the foundation of my existence and realize that no matter the choices I make, they don't matter so much so long as God and pleasing him day by day is my focus in life. After all, what else matters in the end? Jobs can be lost, friendships can fall apart, and happiness is fleeting.

Many people say that Ecclesiastes is a depressing book to read. I, rather, find it a very peaceful and reassuring portion of scripture. No matter how hard I work here on this earth and how much I strive to be the best that I can be in my chosen profession, even should I fail at that, this world and all that it is and stands for is but dust in the wind. There is nothing new under the sun and there is a time for everything. I need to make my life matter for eternity, not just for this temporary world, where I and what I do will be forgotten before long. I want to live for the line, not just the dot.

Does that mean I give up on accomplishing anything with my life? No indeed. Does that mean I should not work hard to excel at the things I attempt? No indeed. It does mean, however, that my own praise and my own glory should not be my driving force. Instead, God's praise and God's glory should be all that matters. No matter the choices I make and the steps I take in life, that is what will endure.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men

Colossians 3:23