Last year I had the unusual privilege, of attending my
Aunt's 100th birthday party.
Although she’s my God Mother I had not seen her for many
years as she lives at the other end of the country but when the invitation
arrived I realized this was a unique opportunity, not to be missed and I
wondered what Godly wisdom she might have for her God Son, half her age.
I was met by her granddaughter Rachel who showed me in to
the wooden panelled village hall, past bouquets of lilies; which filled the
room with their strong scent.
I looked around the room expecting to see an elderly lady
in a wheelchair or sitting quietly in a corner.
I thought “where can she be”? “Is she here yet?”
I looked again and realised.
“There she was” with a face brown and wrinkled from many
days spent in her garden. She was standing upright in a blue tweed suit and
holding a wooden walking stick, which was well-polished through years of use.
I was greeted by kiss on the cheek and congratulated her
on her birthday.
Later following cups of piping hot tea,
cupcakes and sandwiches, fit for the queen. I was able to ask her a question I
am sure, we would all want to ask.
What was her secret?
Her reply “Find your passion” and she
went on to explain that she had found her’s: botanical painting, when she had
retired.
And I realised that all the beautiful
paintings of local wild flowers, that were hung in the village hall, where her
work. Had she been born in the 1700’s she would have made a suitable expedition
artist for Captain Cook.
As I considered this, I realised that in
finding her passion, she had found herself.
Indeed in finding herself she had come
to understand something of universal and eternal significance.
Christians’ believe that we are made
in the image of a creator God.
My Aunt in finding her passion
botanical painting had discovered and exercised her creative side and was
experiencing the joy of being “herself”, being the person “God” had made her to
be and this had filled her with energy and joy to keep on painting into her 100th
year.
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