Gaining at Artist's Outlook
A huge, 17-foot block of Carrara marble sat untouched outside a cathedral in Florence, Italy, for over 30 years. Multiple artists viewed the stone during that period, including the great Leonardo da Vinci, but each declined the opportunity, mostly because of the marble's condition, saying it was flawed, unworkable, and a waste of time.
In 1501, twenty-six-year-old Michelangelo examined the stone and accepted the commission. He saw the potential for beauty inside the rock that the other artists didn’t. It took Michelangelo a little over two years to complete the statue, but when it was finished, the masterpiece was presented in Florence’s town square for all to see. The statue now resides at the Galleria dell’ Accademia in Florence, Italy, and attracts approximately 4,000 visitors per day. The once-rejected stone that others believed impossible to craft into beautiful art became one of the most well-known sculptures in history—Michelangelo’s David.
How often do we feel like that block of Carrara stone? Flawed, veined with imperfections, impossible to work with, and a waste of time? I’ve thought that, looking in the mirror on a bad hair day.
Michelangelo understood the stone’s flaws but also its potential and knew how to work within its limitations to enhance its budding promise. He once said, “Every block of stone has a statue inside it, and it is the sculptor’s task to discover it.” God is our great sculptor. He sees beauty in the stone—the masterpiece within us and longs to work with us to draw it out. God sent his son, Jesus, to break away the chunks of sin and the Holy Spirit to chisel off our imperfections.
In Psalm 139:14, David wondered at God’s workmanship, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
When we look in the mirror, do we see our limitations and flaws, or do we see the fulfillment of God’s promise inside us? Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” We must see our potential through the master craftsman's lens. Even if others give up on us, God doesn’t. We must allow God to work in our lives, believe in the Master’s plan, and the great masterpiece He is creating.