When it Rains
Often times when I am "arting," I get a little paint happy. I mix a little too much paint. Excess is good so I do not have to try to color-match mixed hues, however, paint isn't cheap! I do not like to waste paint which is essentially wasting money. I always set aside a canvas to brush, throw, sprinkle, smear, dab and drip my leftover paint on.
When this happens, I don't usually have a plan. I just apply the excess paint on the extra canvas and see where it takes me. I kind of make it up as I go along, throwing colors around, getting into a steady rhythm. This process can take 30 minutes, or it can take months. This time, it took months.
This mess of a canvas sat through many paint sessions and became the "leftover" canvas. Layer upon layer was building on top of it, but I was having a bit of an artist's block deciding where to take it.
One day, I painted completely over it all - paused - and then gently wiped some of it off before it could dry. I stood back and what I saw took me back to a memory from August 2016 - the flood. Many parts of Southern Louisiana flooded during that random August rainstorm and we watched as the rains poured unceasing; the water rising higher and higher. Our home took on minimal water, but it was nothing compared to the thousands of homes that lost everything.
The devastation across Acadiana was overwhelming, but what happened in the days, weeks and months following was amazing! God covered our community. He protected us. He showed up in big ways in the chaos of the day and the quiet of the night. Strangers helping strangers, friends helping friends - and everyone became one giant family having been through something catastrophic together.
This umbrella represents God's protection over us. The handle where we grip the umbrella dips below the flood waters. Even when we are standing in the flood, He covers us. We can use the floods - the hardships - in our lives to reach out and draw nearer to God because He is already there protecting us. We can trust Him to cover us and hold on to Him to pull us through.
But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you.
Psalm 5:11
