I love this picture!  It feels like me…the creative, out of the box, free spirit part of me.  Perhaps what I like most is trying to see things from a different perspective, both artistically and intellectually.

In the first chapter of John, we see Jesus calling the disciples to come and follow him.  He called Phillip, who then encouraged Nathanael to come along.  Jesus made an observation about Nathanael, who then responded to Jesus with the question, “How do you know me?”  (verse 48).  It was through KNOWING that Nathanael professed his faith, saying to Jesus, “You are the Son of God!”.  Perhaps it is in being known that we come to know.

A couple of years ago I was in Sedona, Arizona participating in an art retreat.  One of the art experiences was making a life mask.  I was very curious.

We had a choice to do our hand if we did not want to do our face.  I struggled with the choice.  I was thinking that I just wanted to do my hand, but something kept calling me to do my face. We went to the artist’s home which was fascinating.  She took us into a room where life sized sculptures were sitting in a circle.  They were in different positions with various expressions,  but all were worshipful.  I decided then that I wanted to do the mask.

While I laid on the floor on my back, my class partner put the wet plaster strips on my face one by one.  During that experience I saw a light underneath the darkness of the mask and behind my closed eyelids.  I felt God’s presence in that light.  Finally the mask was taken away.

Later we all shared about our experience.  I admitted that I had feared seeing my face like that.  I thought it would be ugly.  But somehow in this crazy, simple mask … unadorned,  bare…I saw something beautiful. It was something God had done.  It was God’s creation.  It was ME in a way I had not seen before.  “How did you know me?”

Oh God, you created me.  You know me better than I know myself.  You made each one of us unique and beautiful.  You redeemed us on the cross.  I am grateful for my life.  You KNOW me, and in such KNOWING there is deep love.  

Pondering…

What do you love about the way God made you?

Who do you feel KNOWS you?

nk