I missed the art gene. My drawing of a man still looks as it did when I drew one at 4-years of age. It is beyond my comprehension how a fellow human can paint a portrait portraying accurately his subject. When a skilled artist paints a rose, it actually looks like a real rose. Incredible—how can anyone do that?

Then, there is the caricature technique used by the creator of political cartoons who draws a likeness of his subject—not a precise copy. There is enough of a resemblance to make obvious the identity of the target of satire. It is an artistic representation of the subject. Once again, I stand in amazement. How can anyone do that?

An accurate portrait of Divine God is impossible. His holy self is beyond description. The best I can do this side of the garden is a linking of color hues giving off a Divine Reflection of the creator. In the garden, I will see the Divine Image clearly; however, for now, I can see enough.

Now, comes the amazing expectation—God wants others to look at me and see the Divine Reflection. That is a remarkable goal on God’s part for earthly me who is descended from fallen Eve and Adam. Sure, I still have a spark of the Divine; but in addition, I possess a lot of fallen dirt.

Here is what I believe God wants from me. He does not expect perfection from the likes of me. He is happy to give me a life’s worth of time for my caricature portrait to start to resemble more of his caricature portrait.

He does expect my commitment. I did that when I declared, “I’m in.” From that beginning declaration, he wants to see my love for him increase incrementally over a lifetime. He wants to see my lifetime formation of trust in him grow up and to the right on the maturity chart.

He wants the grace I show others to grow from the grace he shows me. At age 65, he wants me to do less shouting at the bozos from inside my sealed car than I did with the windows down at age 25. The truth is he would like to see a wellhead of grace burst forth from my life, and spew with such abundance that my outward shouts stop. In place of shouts, my first reaction becomes prayers of love and concern for others. (I will need all of the time he gives me to raise the needle on that one.)

Now here is the amazing truth.

Because of the commitments Jesus and I made to each other based on what happened on a hill and in a garden over 2,000 years ago, when I reflect the Divine Image a transformation takes place. When I live from my authentic center as I relate to you—Jesus steps between us, and what you should see is the Divine Image painted over my portrait.

It is an awesome thought to think that I could possibly reflect the Divine Image.

What are your reflections? Stay tuned. – Gary Sorrells