Centerpiece

            It used to be an eyesore.  Now it is a centerpiece.

            In the kitchen, the antique green cupboard was crammed into a too-small space.  Its previous locations—two other kitchens, a garage, a bathroom, and a basement—had done nothing to enhance its attractiveness.  The matte finish holds dust and dirt, and even Murphy’s Oil Soap tends to take shades of green paint right off the wood.

            Now in my room, the very same cupboard sits catty-corner between the window and the French doors, picking up the greens of the curtains and the macramé door hanging.  Quite simply, this piece of history has become the focal point of the entire room.  In it are my treasures:  Bibles and books, flutes and music.

            Like the cupboard, parts of my life were cumbersome.  They didn’t fit any kind of heavenly décor and were ugly reminders of a sin-ruined world.  They had stolen the shine from my soul and refused my efforts to clean them up or hide them in some forgotten closet.

            The miracle of transformation through the wonder of God’s grace—not only the redeeming of sin but also of its terrible effects--repurposed old tragedies.  They became the history for new being.  I cannot pretend they are not there, but their old, scarred surfaces now reflect God’s glory instead of my shame.

            Jesus’ specialty is taking old eyesores and changing them into masterpieces of His mercy.  He is the centerpiece of all beauty.