Imperfection

Gumpies.

That is what my gifted glass blower friend calls her mistakes. Gumpies. What to my eye is beautiful, she finds undesirable. Her eyes see the tiny flaws. For her business, these gumpies are not worthy for jewelry.

During a recent beach gathering of friends, there sat the mistakes. The gumpies, relegated to the tub of shame. Imperfections were barely discernable to my untrained eyes. The fascinating, shiny, colorful, irresistible tub of gumpies called me again and again. Dipping my hands in the cool glass, pulling out fascinating designs, sorting and making patterns. I couldn't stay away.

Despite the imperfections, these gorgeous glass baubles are desirable as sources of beauty and inspiration.

Are we not like that?

Gumpies?

Imperfect, flawed, full of mistakes.

Gumpies remind me of God. I am the above. Add to that list sometimes unlovable, irritating, sharp edged, critical, lazy, uptight, selfish. I can easily see the flaws in this messed-up human.

But God still desires fellowship with me. In spite of my 'gumpie-ness' He sees me as fascinating and worthy of purchase. He also finds me beautiful, irresistible, colorful, and fascinating. He doesn't stay away. He wants to sort and refine and create in me.

From the muddle of bright shiny jewels, He chose me. He paid for me. He loves me and wants to shine through His creation. Me.

God loves gumpies.

Signed,

A gumpie.

Broken Together

Casting Crowns has the most beautiful new song called "Broken Together."

When I first listened to "Broken Together," it sounded so much like the love story of a couple who had fallen on very difficult times. The couple were at the end of their strength and were seriously close to ending the whole thing.

The chorus says it perfectly:

Maybe you and I were never meant to be complete
Could we just be broken together?
If you can bring your shattered dreams and I'll bring mine
Could healing still be spoken and save us
The only way we'll last forever is broken together

(Casting Crowns, from the album Thrive)

The haunting melody and musical bridge led me to consider all of the broken dreams and struggles in my own marriage. We have been married almost 30 years, but length of time together does not mean perfection. I think the song reminded me that being broken is the first step in allowing God to put things back together, a job that only He can do. Both of us have shattered dreams, dreams that have fallen in pieces to the ground. But what it? What if we both agree and bring those broken parts together and allow our hearts and marriage to be healed?

It has worked for us, though I've just labeled it through this song.

And then even more recently, I was listening to a radio host talking about "Broken Together" being a picture of human beings, not just married people or couples in a relationship.

This song is a perfect fit for those deep relationships between brothers and sisters, moms and dads, kids and parents, and friends. Nobody is perfect. We hurt others and they hurt us. Sometimes our dreams come true, but not every time. What the Lord wants is our brokenness. Only then can we be complete and healed forever, for He completes us in every way.

The only way we'll last forever . . . is broken together.

Angie Quantrell listens to K-Love, a Christian radio station. K-Love features wonderful touching songs which are refreshment for her soul.

Mirror, Mirror, On the Wall - Reflections of Self

Mirror, mirror, on the wall,
Who's the fairest of them all?

We all know that the evil Stepmother in Snow White uttered those words as she contemplated her own beauty. Dare I say that her self-absorption plus basic evil were two of the causes for her downfall?

I'm not going to suggest, "Don't look in mirrors." This is not that kind of post.

Early today, I read a devotional that mentioned that we humans look into the mirror 8-10 times a day or 60-70 times a day counting electronic mirrors on phones and such. That is quite a bit of self-gazing. Enough for anyone. I know I look that many times just to see which way the hair is sticking up.

Thoughts about mirrors continued as I self-reflected. (Pun intended.)

I really don't like to look at myself in the mirror. Especially when clothes are not present. Eek! Things are headed south that should just stay where they are and winter white gets a new definition. All of me, scars, wrinkles, and sags are hanging out in plain sight. Let's just not go there!

And then the Holy Spirit nudged me deeper. I realized that I don't like God to look at me in my nothings. I don't mind so much when I have my 'spiritual' clothes on, the ones that make me look presentable. But when He starts asking to see the real me, the naked self, He will have a clear view of all of my shortcomings, failures, and downright sins. The not-so-pretty stuff. Wrinkles, bags, dimples, and scars of past choices will be on display. Disobedience, unkindness, selfishness, gossip - the list is really quite long of opportunities for icky things He would see. Should I allow Him into my very deepest self, He will see me for what I truly am.

Sinful.

Imperfect.

I cringe at the thought.

But the truth is, He sees it all anyway. It's like the little children who think they can hide from God in the bedroom closet and then He won't be able to see the naughty things they've done.

I can hide it all (like with Spanx) but the reality is still there. I'm not a size 2 with perfectly toned, well, anything. I'm not an admirable person who reacts and lives in perfection. Called to holiness, yes, but no way possible can that happen without the Holy Spirit.

I need to get real. And get naked. I'm talking about my heart. He knows every little piece of me already, so let's just open wide the doors and invite Him in, mess and all.

Only then can He deal with the gunk and create a new reflection. Of Him.

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children (Ephesians 5:1).

Rephrased, be reflections of God . . .


Angie Quantrell wants to be honestly transparent to Him and lovingly reflective of Him.