The Tribune

By Rev Angela C Bosfield Palacious

Some people have innate creative gifts. They are born with the ability to make beautiful things with their hands, and need only be provided with objects and opportunity in order to reveal what is already inside. A toy like Lego is excellent in this regard.

Others are interested but not as capable. They improve with instruction and supervision, learning to follow patterns until they may find themselves willing to experiment, or content to work for someone else making their dreams come true.

There are a great variety of talents and skills, the most obvious being painters, musicians, graphic artists, writers and so many others. Chefs are artists, gardeners are artists and even hairdressers are artists also. Many wonderful creations are produced in a mixture of materials. They all make the world a more special and wonderful place. This is how Solomon decorated the temple:

“For the entrance to the inner sanctuary he made doors out of olive wood that were one fifth of the width of the sanctuary. And on the two olive-wood doors he carved cherubim, palm trees and open flowers, and overlaid the cherubim and palm trees with hammered gold. In the same way, for the entrance to the main hall he made door frames out of olive wood that were one fourth of the width of the hall. He also made two doors out of juniper wood, each having two leaves that turned in sockets. He carved cherubim, palm trees and open flowers on them and overlaid them with gold hammered evenly over the carvings.”(1 Kings 6: 31-35).

How would you describe and define a masterpiece? I would say, without the help of a dictionary, that a masterpiece is something extraordinary, unique, and special that has never been seen before, or is reproduced with such originality and individuality that others respond with amazement.

Very often it is immediately obvious, or it may be eventual while the artist is still alive, but very often it is posthumous, when the creator is long gone. Sometimes, no one declares it to be a treasure but we experience it as our best gift to the world.

We live in one of God’s masterpieces of creation. Our turquoise waters, white or pink sandy beaches, our glorious array of colourful trees, flowers, fruit and vegetables offer a glimpse of the mind and imagination of God

When you look in the mirror what do you see? I hope you see someone made in the image of God, one who has the potential to be one of God’s masterpieces, a unique and special gift from God to the world.

Do you feel your own worth and value? Do you know how much you are loved and celebrated? Do you often think about the price that Jesus Christ paid for you to have eternal life? Are you living as if you are a masterpiece? Do you know what that kind of life is like?

I believe that it involves inner peace, a degree of serenity and tranquility even in the midst of storms, loving kindness, joyful exuberance, a grateful heart and a deep faith. Be prepared to pray this prayer every day for yourself and others:

“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3 :14-19).

• Rev Angela Palacious, a motivational speaker and author of several devotional books, is an Anglican priest. She may be contacted at 393-9000 or by e-mail at angelapalacious@gmail.com.