Beauty from Ashes

Resurrection Window, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Clay Center, Photo by Lisa Bauer

The stained glass window doesn't look like it was taken from the pages of a children's Bible. There's not an image of Jesus welcoming the little children. The Good Shepherd is not cradling sheep in his arms while standing in a lush green pasture. Jesus is not standing on the other side of a door, ready for our knock.

Instead, it's like random shards of glass were tossed onto a stained glass canvas and soldered together. And, to a degree, they were.

When a tornado damaged the stained glass windows at Clay Center's St. Paul's Episcopal Church many years ago, the members collected the fragments of glass and had this window made. They call it the Resurrection Window. It now stands as a testament to God's faithfulness and the congregation's ability to piece together beauty from tragedy.

Out of despair, comes hope.
Out of hope, comes creativity.
Out of creativity, comes art.
Out of ashes, comes beauty. (Isaiah 61: 2-4)

Read the rest of the story on my blog, Food for Thought, at Lovely Branches Ministries. And while you're there, check out the blogs from my friends at Lovely Branches.

Have a good Monday!

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