A box of Crayola crayons. Seventy-two sticks of color all lined up in perfect little rows. Aquamarine, brick red, carnation pink, cornflower, forest green, goldenrod, magenta, periwinkle…They were the same colors I had used as a child only I had taken them for granted and this little girl took out each crayon and looked at each one as if the color had just been invented. “Can I use them?” she said, as if that were a delight of which one could normally only dream. “They’re yours,” I said, “Now you can create beautiful things anytime you like.”
I had brought a large pad of paper with me and as I sat in the dirt outside the small wobbly house where this little girl lived I turned back the cover to reveal a canvas on which she could draw. She placed the pad of paper on the ground in front of her and took the first color out of the box and paused for a moment as if the possibilities for creation were endless. I don’t remember what color she used first only that it was followed by the use of all seventy-one other colors. It was as if she couldn’t bear to leave one color unused, as if she needed to see how each one looked next to another.
When she had finished her masterpiece it was a picture worthy of hanging on any refrigerator. Although her home lacked any appliances I was confident that this work would be proudly displayed on one of the many nails that jutted through the thin walls of her home. After the completion of her work of art I assumed her attention span would have reached it’s limit. I remember trying to think of something new and novel we could do, but my ideas weren’t necessary for she wasn’t ready to be done. There was plenty more paper and seventy-two sticks of color that she simply couldn’t let stay in the box.
My dream for all of us who are followers of the Lord Jesus Christ is that we would approach our work for the kingdom of God in the same way this little girl approached her works of art. What if we could really see the endless possibilities for putting our faith into action? And what if we understood that we don’t have a box of just eight colors, we have thousands of possibilities all lined up in perfect little rows. Feeding the hungry, sharing the good news, healing the sick, offering forgiveness, choosing to take the high road, saying a kind word, inviting a stranger in, giving away our money, mourning with those who morn, rejoicing with those who rejoice, sponsoring a child, offering grace, offering a smile, offering a prayer. What if we looked at each of these as if they were a possibility just invented. What if we said to God, “Can we use them?” What if we couldn’t wait to get out into the world because we knew it was a canvas on which we can create beautiful things. What if we never grew bored and our attention spans never grew weary and what if we just couldn’t bear to leave any colors in the box.
This month in chapel we move into “Putting our Faith into Action” and I pray as we gather together that God will inspire new works of art among us. This morning we have the privilege of having Rev. Dr. Chris Wright with us to offer the opening challenge for the month. Rev. Wright has been on campus as the keynote for the Kermit Zarley lectures and if you haven’t had the chance to hear him you are in for a treat this morning for he is a man of God who has boldly used all the colors in his box. (Rev. Wright's biography).
This morning we also come to the Lord’s table together to remember the One who held nothing back, but emptied himself on our behalf. As we come to the One who left nothing in the box may we leave knowing we are called to the same and may the Creator use you to create something beautiful on the canvas of his world.
I can’t wait to see what God gets to hang on his fridge.
