first friday March 7, 2008

the first friday of every month
the art galleries in chinatown
open up and stay open late.

the streets are filled with young
and old alike, all hoping for a
table at one of the quaint
restaurants and a glimpse of
something that moves their
soul.

tonight, this was me as well.
i went out with some ladies
from my church. 

it was like a night in my beloved
new
york
city

streets crowded
all sorts of fashion out to be flaunted
culture
art
food

we ate at a darling little french
place where everyone had a
glass of wine in one hand and
cheese in the other.  people
were crowded around tables and
talking loudly.  there was an outdoor
courtyard in the middle and all
the servers wore black with long
aprons.

we shared a meat and cheese plate,
roasted red pepper and artichoke
salad, and a warm brie something
with apples and grapes. it was  
d e l i c i o u s ! !

then we cruised through some
galleries. it was great fun.  a
man (who ended up being one
of the artists) came up behind
me to tell me my lei was pretty
(troy, one of the ladies, gave it to 
me for my birthday), and without
even a pause or a stutter he looked
me over and said, “you are from
new york, aren’t you!”  in silent
shock my face turned a hot red
and my eyes popped open.  he and
his wife are new yorkers! we had
a nice conversation and he explained
his paintings to us.

at a gallery full of blown glass we
watched two artists craft and
form a beautiful glass vase. 

i could have watched them all night.
they had a plan for that glass, i didn’t
know it at first, but he had a picture of
what he was making in his mind the
entire time.  his movements were
steady and sure.  at his hand the glass
took its shape…a lovely shape.  the
fire glowed red hot as he opened the
oven to put the glass is…making it
hot and moldable.  it was all something
to behold. 

at the perfect moment…the moment
when he shaped the stand for the vase
out of two obscure bubbles of soft
glass, i was reminded of the shaping,
forming, loving, kind, steady, work of the
Father
our Creator
the Master Craftsman
in my own life.  he makes me and shapes
me, he cuts off the unnecessary parts, and
will form something beautiful.  it may not
look like it now, but he has the final shape
in mind.  it’s the image of Christ!

i was moved deeply, drawn to
love and worship my Lord as i
watched the glass blowers carefully
and purposefully make their art.

indeed we are fearfully
and wonderfully made.