T’was on one of those early mornings when driving for a breakfast meeting, I suddenly realized I had time on hand. I slowed the car down and found I was skirting the beautiful Powai lake. I stopped, got down, and watched the red morning sun reflected on the gentle waves. I searched for a place to sit and found two garden benches, alas, facing not the lovely lake but ugly traffic filled noisy road behind!
The contractor, in charge of fixing the benches had missed the big picture; the beauty of the lake.
A few years ago, as I stood with a friend and watched as they lowered his wife into her grave, I wondered what the big picture was. How could a God above, I wondered take her away from a loving husband and an only child. But, were we sitting on the wrong side of the bench, I wondered. Were we looking at tumult and turmoil, when peace and joy was there somewhere? Was it that we were not perceiving the big picture?
It was years ago on a visit to London that I decided to pay a visit to Windsor Castle. In one of its many magnificent rooms did I see a sculptured marble carving, it was a picture called Grief. On a marble bed a warrior lay dead. Grief was portrayed by the seven sisters who were all around his body weeping. The stone figures were so vividly carved that one could feel the sorrow that was etched into faces and bodies. The dead warrior’s bier and group of sisters took up the major portion of the wall and I would have gone on the next piece of art had my eyes not looked above the sculptured work. I gasped as I realized that the work of art carried on to one more floor. Above the scene of grief, in the same picture, a little new born baby was rising into the sky, and ecstatic angels were leaning down to hold the child and guide it to its heavenly home. The artist had captured grief and joy together.
The big picture was not a wife placed in a lonely grave, but her soul joyfully being welcomed by angels and a God above. The big picture need not be about troubles we are undergoing during this strange period but in the strength we are building that will make us winners later!
I wonder which direction your garden seat is turned towards?
To the troubles of the world? Physical pain? Mental torture? Financial ruin? Despair? Rejection?
Turn your seat around and start seeing and feeling the big picture. There’s a gentle wind on your face and sun in your eyes. There are divine arms stretching out to hold and steady you. Open your eyes and let your gaze lock onto the big picture..!
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Robert Clements is a newspaper columnist and writes a daily column, which has graced the pages of over 60 newspapers and magazines, from a daily column in the Khaleej Times, Dubai, the Morning Star, London, and in nearly every state in India, from The Statesman in Kolkata, to the Kashmir Times in Kashmir to the Trinity Mirror in Chennai.
Choices, a pair of eyes, a pair of ears, a pair of hands and a pair of feet
This I would, or would not. To insult or compliment , To brood or to dream
Felt peace within reading this article so true but beautifully penned. Yes. It’s always grief & pain of lives are focused, leaving aside the little joys that brush away due to our lack of appreciation.
??God bless you Bob! ?
Thank you Liza, and may God bless you also!
How important it is for us to focus on the BIG beautiful picture……to have the Peace which passeth all understanding to engulf us!!! Amazing thought Bob..
We all think of death as morose..but a life well lived can go in peace into the arms of the Creator!
A peaceful lake and a beautiful sunrise is so much more better than looking at and hearing the clanging and clatter of traffic..we would definitely want to turn the seat around!
Bro. Bob , a very good observation and description of the complex scene of mixed feelings.
With Faith when you see through our Heavenly Father’s Eyes, we can see peace arising from the midst of the Storm.
Stay Blessed.
In this life journey we have to turn our seat on right direction so we can go long way
Happiness and sorrow are relative. Neither is as big as it seems nor can be totally ignored.
They are two sides of the same coin.
Having received the coin of life one should accept one’s lot and move on looking at the bright side of death, and try to smile till one draws the terminal breath !
Nice one in the current situation when everyone is talking abt doom and gloom missing the bigger picture !!
In the current situation when many are talking about doom and gloom , they are missing the bigger picture !!
Today it’s my mum’s 35th death anniversary but the birthday of my son in law’s mum and also his parents’ wedding anniversary. It’s a friend’s birthday too.It was an uncle’s birthday and I sat eating cake unaware of my mum’s passing away. Jesus is the Death of Death. My mum hence faced only the shadow of death. She’s in the land of the living because He lives Thank you Bobby for this article that reminds me of parting being thus a sweet sorrow. Departure here is ascension there.PraiseGod
Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow faintly dim. In the light of His Glory and Grace. That’s the direction our seat and eyes should face.