Strange Fashioning

The story is told of a beautiful stained glass window which graced a cathedral. Visitors came from all around to gaze upon the splendor of this work of art. That is, until a violent storm forced in the window and it crashed to the ground, shattering into hundreds of pieces. The shards were collected in a box and stowed away in the dark recesses of the cathedral’s cellar.

One day a stranger arrived in town asking to see the beautiful window. Upon learning of its fate, he asked what had been done with the wreckage and was taken to look at the broken fragments of glass. He asked permission to take the box and its contents, which was given to him as it was no longer of use.

Time passed until one day a summons came to the custodians of the cathedral. An artist, renowned for his great skill in glass crafting, invited them to come and view an exquisite piece of his work, a stained glass window of surpassing beauty. As they gazed at its richness and stunning patterns with workmanship never before seen, the artist turned and told them, “From the fragments of your shattered window I have fashioned this one. It is now ready to be replaced.”

Once again a beautiful window graced the cathedral, casting sparkling prisms of light. The story of its strange fashioning was circulated about, once again drawing many to soak in its increased splendor that far surpassed the old.

***

I relate to this story in deep interior ways. God has been fashioning a broken me back together again in a painstaking way over the past two-plus decades. Much of that work has been done in His workshop, hidden away and ‘on the bench,’ so to speak. And yet more recently, in this breast cancer journey that has struck my exterior, He has been linking together the internal and external pieces of my life in an incredible way. Though hard to express what’s been going on inside, some of which is private anyway, it is as though Holy Spirit light bulbs have been popping on all over the place. Some, in a surface sort of way, would call it ‘connecting the dots.’ But it is far more than that. I call it ‘connecting destiny.’

Even the removal of all that makes me physically female (an external shattering), followed by the reconstruction surgery scheduled a few short weeks from now , is in the natural a picture of Abba Father’s meticulous re-establishment of my very life – spirit, soul, and body.

When I was told that breast cancer had returned, I knew that my life has not yet seen the fulfillment of what God created me to be and to do. Life has been my only desire. And in His magnificent way, He has been strangely fashioning me all along toward the crescendo of restoration in the days ahead. I cannot wait to participate with the LORD in living out His design for me.

To Him who said… “The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,” says the LORD Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the LORD Almighty.” Haggai 2:9 (NIV)

I reply with Job… “You will yet fill my mouth with laughter and my lips with shouts of joy!”

Gracefully Free

 

Postscript: As I write tonight, I’m keenly aware that except for God and His unending love and mercy, I would not be where I find myself today. And that’s what I am most grateful for…I am finding myself. In a more glorious present house than the former one ever was.

That is your birthright too.

Your window may be shattered at present and being put back together seems impossible. Maybe it feels like pieces are missing and you’ll never be whole. Or maybe you believe life is too far gone and it’s too late. Whatever your wellspring is whispering…

Maybe it’s time to simply surrender to His fashioning fingers and let Him decide the glorious outcome.