This story is from Henri Nouwen’s book Clowning in Rome. A sculptor was working with hammer and chisel on a large block of marble. A small boy watched fascinated as pieces of stone fell away, but he had no idea what was happening. A few weeks later the boy returned to see a large, powerful stone lion sitting where the block of marble had been. Excited, the boy asked the sculptor, “Sir, how did you know there was a lion in the marble?”

The first gift of the artist is to see what’s possible. That’s true about life in general. We won’t accomplish much if we don’t see the possibilities in ourselves. It’s why I have so much trouble with people who demean others. They try to destroy possibilities. Avoid those sort of people.

The second gift of the artist is to bring what’s possible into reality. A sculptor who was asked how she created a stunning eagle out of stone replied, “I just chipped off the parts that didn’t look like an eagle.” While that downplays the incredible talent needed by a sculptor, you get the idea.

We are created in the image of God. Being in the image of God opens all sorts of possibilities for us. The problem is that image is often so deeply imbedded in us no one, including ourselves, can see it. Much of the godly life involves shipping away at the stuff that hides our true selves–a person created in God’s image.

Chip away, dear friends. Let’s see the lion in the stone.

Read Genesis 1:27 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne