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(J.R. Miller,
"The Glory of the Commonplace")
In Florence, one of the treasures of art admired by thousands of
visitors is Michael Angelo's representation in marble of the
young David. The shepherd boy stands with firm foothold, the
stone grasped tightly in his right hand, ready to be sped on its
holy errand. When the statue was unveiled, three hundred and
fifty years ago, it caused an unparalleled sensation among all
lovers of art. It is, indeed, a marvelous piece of sculpture.
But the strangely winning thing in the story of that statue, is
that it was the stone's second chance. A sculptor began
work on a noble piece of marble--but, lacking skill, he only
hacked and marred the block. It was then abandoned as spoiled
and worthless, and cast aside. For years it lay in a back yard,
soiled and blackened, half hidden among the rubbish. At last
Angelo saw it, and at once perceived its possibilities. Under
his skillful hand, the stone was cut into the lovely and
marvelous beauty which appears in the statue of David.
Just so, God can take
the broken
fragments of a life, shattered by sorrow or by
sin--and out of them make a new life whose music shall thrill
many hearts. If one is discouraged, if the life seems to be
hopelessly broken--the gospel of divine love brings
encouragement. There are no ruins of life, out of which God
cannot build beauty and blessing!
God is infinitely patient with all whose lot is hard. He never
exacts more of us than we can do. He is never unreasonable. He
knows when the burdens are too heavy for us. Once He, "being
wearied with His journey, sat down by the well" in His
exhaustion. He sympathizes with those who are weary, and helps
them.
"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to
sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted
in every way, just as we are" Hebrews 4:15
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