Guest Blogger Jane M. Tucker: A Part of God’s Mosaic

Bowl Plaza mosaic*Today’s post is written by my friend Jane M. Tucker. She is the author of Lottie’s Gift.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (Hebrews 12:1)

Hebrews chapter eleven describes many people who accomplished great things by faith in God. I have sometimes heard this chapter called the “Hall of Heroes,” or the “Faith Hall of Fame.” These titles conjure images of a museum where the portraits of Bible heroes like Abraham, Moses and Rahab hang on the walls. Gold name plates nailed to the picture frames tell who they were, and what they did.

The idea feeds my pride. Someday, I’ll be as great as they were. Someday, I’ll deserve to hang in that hall, too. It isn’t a healthy way to approach my faith walk.

Because the Hall of Fame idea is a trap for me, long ago God gave me a different visual: A mosaic, made of millions of different stones, each one reflecting His light with infinite beauty. In the Master’s hands I am a stone, tumbled to a high polish by time and trial, until I am fit to take my place among all the other precious and unique stones in His timeless design. The idea of a mosaic is reflected in Hebrews 12:1: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (emphasis mine).

The mosaic image holds three advantages for me:

  • I measure myself rightly. I’m not so much a portrait, grandly set apart in a gallery for all to see. I’m a stone, precious to my maker, but not more so than His other precious stones.
  • I see myself in relationship with other believers. Our triune God is all about relationship. One lovely stone is admirable, but it gains even more beauty when placed with all the others to form a greater whole.
  • I remember that God wants everyone to join his family. A missing mosaic tile is instantly noticeable. God needs all his precious stones if his artwork is to be complete.

Now, let me be clear: The portrait painter and the mosaic artist are only metaphors for a God we cannot fully describe. Metaphors clothe the intangible with concrete images, but they are limited. Martin Luther called God a mighty fortress, and David called Him a rock, and those metaphors also have their limitations.

What metaphor for God speaks to you today?

When she’s not gallivanting around New York, Jane M. Tucker works and plays in Overland Park, Kansas, with her husband and three nearly grown kids. She writes about the people and places of the Midwest on her blog, Postcards from the Heartland. Jane’s novel, Lottie’s Gift, about an Iowa farm girl with a big gift for music and the sister she loves with all her heart, is available on Amazon.com and at CrossRiverMedia.

*Photo by Jane M. Tucker

Comments

  1. Jane – I love this mosaic image for God – a beautiful idea. This little piece of the quotation you picked from Hebrews, resonates with me …

    “And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

    Just knowing there is a race marked out for me by God is so comforting, especially knowing He is happy even when I fail to sprint, but plod forward, step-by-step.
    Wishing you and Cheryl every success with your newly published books.

    • Thanks so much, Mairead, for your good wishes and for sharing your thoughts here today. Love how you take comfort in knowing there is a race marked out for you by God. Comforting indeed!

  2. Hildi Baker says

    Jane, this is beautiful! So grateful you are writing and sharing your wisdom and your Faith. Growing you, you always probed me to think and examine my assumptions — and open myself up to God and a spiritual life!

  3. Hi Lottie,

    Nice to meet you. The mosaic is a nice way to reflect on our places reflecting God’s beauty too. I liked the idea of the finish line too, in that others have run this place before me and we’ll get to cheer together when we all get home.

    Cheryl, hi! Thank you for the beautiful book! The exquisite cover design, color pages inside, raised edges, and other delicate touches all combine to make it a very elegant-looking gift book. I look forward to reading it and telling others about it.

    Jennifer Dougan
    http://www.jenniferdougan.com

    • Jennifer, so glad you love the way the book looks! I’m so grateful for the amazing job BroadStreet Publishing did with it. Thanks so much for helping to spread the word about it! Appreciate you!

      p.s. Jane wrote the post and Lottie is the character she created in her book Lottie’s Gift. She might answer to either name, though! :)

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