Momentary art

On beach vacations in my childhood, I made little sand bowls. Piled up a mountain of sand, scooped out the top, then slowly poured a cup of water in.

It baked in the tropical heat. And I baked in the tropical heat. Then, brushing away the loose sand, I lifted out a fragile oddly-shaped sand bowl.

The momentary art of a child at play.

The surf moved in and out. I sat in the vast ocean holding my little creation.  A large wave drenched me. The bowl dissolved. Wet sand ran through my fingers in the waves. Delightful.

Then I made another one.

Children at play

We watched our own children explore and create and discover. Finding the beauty, making their mark in small, momentary ways. 

There were wildflower bracelets and water drawings on the driveway. Words and pictures etched in the firm beach sand one day, gone at the next high tide.

Temporary masterpieces. Simple joys.

Momentary art.

God’s momentary art

The creativity of a child at play reflects in small ordinary ways the image of our Maker. We worship a Master Designer. He created a world of extraordinary detail. Lines. Patterns. Textures. Shapes. Colors.

And our Creator God is extravagant with His momentary art. Just take a look around.

A rainbow shimmers briefly as black storm clouds roll in toward blue sky and sunshine.

Remarkable, exquisitely-designed wildflowers adorn the roadside and the forest clearing in a riot of color and detail. Here today, gone tomorrow.

Shells and coral and driftwood are flung up on the beach in a medley of shapes and colors and patterns. Day after day. Changing with each high tide.

The sky showcases shifting cloud formations that build and move and disappear against shades of blue.  

Momentary art. 

Glimpses of His glory

My little sand bowls were temporary. As are water drawings on a driveway. Fun and creative child’s play.

But God’s momentary art is something much more.  Glimpses of His glory that catch us by surprise. And evoke a childlike wonder that turns to praise.

These glimpses remind us of our longing for true beauty in this temporary world. Longing that in the fullest sense is a hunger for the beauty of the Lord.

Today His momentary art points me to the eternal. And nourishes my soul.

“…Observe how the wildflowers of the field grow. They don’t labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these” (Matthew 6:28-29).

“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the expanse proclaims the work of His hands” (Psalm 19:1).

What about you?

Has God’s momentary art caught you by surprise lately?  Watch for it. Rejoice!