Originally posted in L’Chaim.

The sunlight sparkles on the water, speckles the path, and dances with the trees. I sit on a log bench and meditate on the memory verse for my Bible study:

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, for all things in heaven and on earth were created by him – all things, whether visible or invisible, whether thrones or dominions, whether principalities or powers – all things were created through him and for him. He himself is before all things and all things are held together in him.

All of this has been created by him, through him, and for him.

I look up and study the textures surrounding me: the bark–some large plates, others small slivers, the leaves–some wide mittens, others pine needles, the fish–some transparent, others spotted. Flowers
border my feet–purple and yellow and white.

By him, through him, for him.

The Creator became creation and brought light into the darkness. What does it mean to sparkle with his light? The Church, a body–a body of water reflecting the son? Each of us–our lives, our art, our work–reflecting him.

We walk along the path, my companions and I, sometimes silent, sometimes in laughter. We stop and inspect roots and dragonflies and turtles.

Back at the camp, we find our places of solitude. But it is not silent. The space is filled with the warble of a cardinal, the drumming of a wood pecker, the shushing of the breeze. All creation praises him. After all, it has been created by him, through him, and for him.

In these moments, grace fills the space. Hope of the future, of a creation in perfect harmony, sneaks into the present. In these moments, my life and my art mean nothing and everything. In
these moments, the dark night of the soul awakens into a Dvorak morning.

These are the moments of my retreat, the moments that God refreshed body, soul, and mind, the moments that my emotions overflow with rejoicing in the Creator.

By him, through him, for him.

Editor’s pick by Heather @ L’Chaim. Heather is a writer, speaker, and storyteller who’s passionate about the intersection of art, creativity, and Christianity. Besides her website, you can find her at the online social community, Intersection, for artists and the creative type. She enjoys finishing a good book, starting a new one, and breaking out into song and dance–especially to favorite Broadway tunes.

She also enjoys writing about herself in the third person. It makes her feel important.