Happy Memorial Day, Dear Friends,
There is a marvelous story told by Soren Kieregaard, the Danish philosopher, about a woman who was asked by her priest to make a new cloth for the altar. The sun had come in on the old one and it was faded, and it had become frayed through the years. They needed a new one, and he asked her if she would make the new cloth.
She said, “I’m a seamstress, and I make dresses and things, but a cloth for the sanctuary, for the altar?” She said, “I can’t do that; not for the house of God.” The priest said, “You’re the best in the entire church with a needle and thread — we need you to make it. You pick the thread, you pick the cloth, you pick the design and bring it to the church.”
She took a week looking at the thread. She took another two weeks picking out the material. She made a start on it, and said, “I don’t like the material. I don’t like the thread. It’s just not right. Not for the house of God!” The priest said, “Fix it! We need it!”
The next week he said, “Is it ready?” She said, “Oh, no. I think I’ll start over. I think I would rather have something else.” She started again. Oh, it was taking shape; it was a beautiful design, and it was coming along nicely, but she didn’t like it; it wasn’t suitable for the altar of God. Not for the house of God!
The next week, he said, “Do you have it ready?” She said, “Oh, I need more time! It’s just not good enough!” He said, “Just bring it! Just as it is, just bring it!” She finally brought it, but she protested. “Reverend, it’s just not suitable for the altar. I wish you would let me start over.” He said, “Give it to me.” He took it and spread it on the altar — and she was absolutely amazed. They looked at it together, and she finally said, “It’s more beautiful than I made it.”
The priest said, “Don’t you understand? That’s always the way it is with God. God makes it more beautiful than we can make it.”
Did you know that? Just give God your life and see what God makes it.
Only God can make us new,
Bruce Jones, Pastor
Imagine Church
