Photo by hooger85
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Steve and I stood in front of the golden doors at the Florence Baptistery. It was our last day in Italy, and I desperately wanted to take it slow.
Each of the intricate panels in the door tells a story from the Bible--for back when they were created, these doors would be the only Bible that many believers would ever have the chance to read. Each panel is a masterpiece--taking years to complete--infused with greatness, inspiration, and Spirit combined.
Yet it was a challenge to even look at them. As we stood there, dozens of other tourists approached the doors, snapped a quick photo, then hurried off on their way to another "attraction."
After a while this was too much for me. I started crying--sobbing, really.
"They're passing it all by!" my heart beat out.
But we do the same--often. Each day we live with works of art, of genius and greatness, right under our noses. Our children.
We hurry around, with our to-do lists and our preoccupations, and we fail to see the image of God in our midst:
his gorgeous dimples
her smile
his ability to make up silly songs
What will it take for us to stop, to notice? Awareness, mindfulness, and gratitude.
Don't rush by your masterpiece.
"The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things,
but their inward significance."
~ Aristotle
