Life’s not a race, it’s an art project.

I have been pondering a lot about an analogy someone shared in church a while back. The details and the identity of the individual that shared it have since eluded me, but the analogy was sort of debunking the notion that this life is a race.
Here’s the gist - what if after running and running and struggling to win a race, you cross the finish-line and someone informs you that it was actually an art project?!

There’s a lot to be learned from statements such as ‘life’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon,’ or other cross-the-finish-line sentiments. But the more I see and learn of life, the less I buy in to the idea that God is watching all his children in one massive track meet trying to sprint, jog, or otherwise win medals and achieve personal bests. Maybe it is because I am not a runner and so the race analogy is somewhat repellant. Perhaps it is because I don’t like the innate competition and comparison in racing. Yes, I know it’s all about your personal best, but let’s be real - they still give out awards or medals for those that finish first.  I just don’t think God ranks his children that way. Sometimes we do get carried away trying hard to race toward some future finish line, when our loving Heavenly Father is gently whispering, “it’s not a race - it’s an art project.”

Here’s some scriptural basis to back this up: 

1 Samuel 16:7 “for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man ​be​ ​​​in Christ​, ​he is​ a ​​​new​ creature”
Matthew 5:48 “Be​ ye therefore ​​​perfect, even as your ​​​Father​ which is in heaven is ​​​perfect​.  ”

It’s all about becoming, not simply achieving.

And let’s face it, artwork is messy and divine artwork can be painful at times. Corrie Ten Boom would quote a poem about this unique piece of art we are becoming in the Tapestry Poem by an unknown author:“My life is but a weaving
Between my God and me.
I cannot choose the colors
He weaveth steadily.

Oft’ times He weaveth sorrow;
And I in foolish pride
Forget He sees the upper
And I the underside.

Not ’til the loom is silent
And the shuttles cease to fly
Will God unroll the canvas
And reveal the reason why.

The dark threads are as needful
In the weaver’s skillful hand
As the threads of gold and silver
In the pattern He has planned

He knows, He loves, He cares;
Nothing this truth can dim.
He gives the very best to those
Who leave the choice to Him.”
So let the dark pieces reveal, let the kiln burn, let the color splash and mix. Ultimately Jesus Christ is the ultimate artist and when we allow him to work His art in our hearts, that is the whole point of our life. And there is a peace and beauty found in creatively becoming instead of frantically racing with or against those around us. God isn’t trying to push us all toward a finish line. This life is not a race, it’s an art project.