Sculpting a Masterpiece...

I usually don't cross-post my blog's, but I think today is an exception.  Here is a post I did today on my blog Life According to Ryan.

Have you or anyone you know ever had a friendship with an artist?  I’m not talking about a musician, but a true, crafty artist?  Someone who paints, sculpts, designs or basket weaves (ok, maybe not a basket weaver – sorry to those who do basket weave) but a true artist?  As you know, artists can be quirky, unique individuals that have an eye and attention to detail that is like no other.  I’ve never been gifted with such talents as the afore-mentioned, but have been privileged to know one.

Shannon Cochran of Shannon Cochran Designs (artist of the above picture) is the best artist and visionary that I know.  His attention to the finest of details is as remarkable as his God given skill to make anything art.  From paintings to murals to full on room remodeling, Shannon is truly a gifted artist to the core.  I’ve seen plenty of remodeling and artistry shows that my wife has made me watch on HGTV, PBS and DIY Network that I certainly should have slept through, but if the show had been more like what Shannon creates I would have been attentive the entire time.  People (me included)  seem to admire most the traits that they themselves don’t possess.  Having that “A type” personality coupled with the pure artistry makes them a magnetic person to which most gravitate to.

As you all know (or at least the ones that follow my blog) I find religious parallels in some of the oddest places and that’s exactly what I see here.  To not talk about the artistry and craftsmanship of our Creator would be a mistake.  I see God as the greatest artist especially when He paints the skyline at dawn and dusk each day.  The endless pallet of color with the unique texture of clouds and light each day is a masterful array of beauty that is never the same.  Each new sunrise and sunset brings a new individual tapestry that no one has seen for each day is different.  I believe that our lives are also some of God’s best work as well, but I see this art form differently.

I view each life as a piece of blown glass.  God carefully places us in His fire and turns us, molds us and shape us into our selves, carefully making each detail with purpose.  When we are born into the world we are fragile, dependant creatures totally relying on our parents.  As we age, we begin to lose our sheen as we become more exposed to the world and this life of sin in which we are born. As we continue to learn more of our sinful nature and are exposed to even more, cracks begin to form until eventually we are broken into thousands of tiny shards and pieces of glass.  Just when the world thinks that God’s masterful work is lost, God picks up the pieces and truly creates, shapes and molds a showpiece of unbreakable measure that outshines and shimmers what the world once knew and that’s when Gods most impressive work is complete: making something out of nothing.

My life has come full circle and I know a lot of others who would say the same.  My life has never been the perfect example of anything, but when God has a hold of your life you become something special, something that cannot be duplicated.  When God is in full control of your life that when you’ll find Him Sculpting a Masterpiece…