29/52 work in progress

All great art is the product of long, meticulous hours. Layer is laid upon layer until the canvas finally yields a coherent image. Bit by bit, small pieces are painstakingly chipped away until finally the masterpiece emerges from the once formless block. I unfortunately have never possessed the patience necessary to produce a quality work of art. I'm the kind of person that would try to repaint a room without first using primer. At a glance, everything seems fine. But even under a little more scrutiny, the imperfections become obvious. You can't rush a work in progress.

And yet so often we look for the fast track to change. Be a better you in 30 days. Transform your body in 90. But nothing worth having comes easy.

I've often wondered why God never effected a drastic, rapid change in me. Thankfully, His wisdom is far beyond ours. God is not tempted to rush. He works in ways that we can't always understand. We can't always see the larger picture unfolding, but the final image has already been composed in His mind. When it is complete, it will be glorious beyond our wildest imagination.

"And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." 2 Cor. 3:18