"old things have passed away; behold all things have become new." 2 Cor. 5:17b
I've often written in the past of my love for old barns & buildings. Rustic, weathered wood, or pitted, grainy stone, these things attract my camera lens over & over again.
This barn near Osoyoos, BC has always been one of my favourites and I have many images of it from every angle, in every season, and every time of day.
When I visited Europe, I was in awe of all the old buildings, cathedrals, castles, and homes there. I could have taken pictures day in & day out and still found more & more to photograph. There is so much beauty in old architecture.
When I see things like old barns being reclaimed by the elements of the earth from decay & neglect it always makes me a little sad. However, I'm not mourning the memory of the building. I have no idea (usually) who lived there or owned that particular building, no particular personal attachment to its history... it just makes me sad to see something I would love to photograph falling into decay so that photo opportunities won't be there anymore. Sounds a little selfish I guess. However, those that know me well know I'm NOT a sentimental person.
Neither am I impressed if something new is built in its place. Not that I'm against progress or "moving ahead", because I'm all for that, but if it isn't replaced with something of equal beauty, it makes me sad too.
All this to say I've been thinking about souls. I know a lot of people with beautiful souls, people who do not know the Lord. I can only imagine that if they do come to Christ, their soul would only get more beautiful! I also know many Christians with ugly souls. And I wonder what happened when their "old soul" passed away? Was their soul always this ugly? Did their "new soul" become beautiful upon its recreation but the decay & neglect of time turn it ugly, broken down and ruined so that nobody could care to see it or bother trying to save it?
And I wonder what my own soul looks like, to others and to Christ? Is it a thing of beauty, or was it replaced with something that started off somewhat nice but decayed to ruin beyond help? Or is it like the old barns & buildings... once a thing of beauty, facing a lot of hardships & decay but still a thing of beauty in the eyes of our Beholder? I know its not shiny & new anymore, it probably has a lot of weathered dents & dings of years gone by, but I hope that it is still something of beauty, despite the passage of time.
Well Miss Becks,
ReplyDeleteAnother thought provoking post, I appreciate it.
When I read this I think that some things just get old, some get old and decay, as you say some grow old and get replaced and some get old, and give birth to something new in the way of nature... BUT some things when they get old become ANTIQUES. Genuine antiques are sometimes priceless.
I believe that if you are wondering how your soul is THATS whats important to the Beholder - that you care and don't assume anything.
Its dull and drear here. You're missing nothing.
But we miss you.
Becky, your soul is absolutely brilliant! Beautiful beyond words. :) I am so glad a silly site like FF introduced such a fabulous woman and sister in Christ into my life! (((hugs)))
ReplyDeleteThanks girls!
ReplyDeleteBarb - I like your antiques comparison also! Its very fitting for the same thoughts!
Anna - I'm glad too :) Its great to have a kindred spirit in this walk thru motherhood!
Love your pictures Becky :) I knew an older couple at our church when I was younger (they are both home with the Lord now for many years), anyhow, the husband was a pencil sketch artist and he loved to draw old buildings, especially barns. I remember going with him and his wife one day to watch him draw (and attempt to do a little drawing of my own). It was a wonderful day.
ReplyDeleteAs for our souls, praise God our souls are eternally secure through the finished work of Jesus Christ. We are clothed in His righteousness and in God's sight, because of Jesus, we are justified, seen just as if we have never sinned because of Christ. Now that's amazing. We are sinners, but God's grace through Jesus saves us and cleanses us from all sin. Here's some precious promises of God:
"I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness..." Isa. 61:10
"And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith." Phil. 3:9
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith." Rom. 3:23-27