The Creator’s Colours

For the majority of my life, I have struggled with developing new hobbies. As a kid, I “learned” how to play the recorder, or should I say, I learned to spray spit from a piece of wood with holes. After failing for months to hold a note, I chose another instrument that I thought would require less effort. I spent another year “learning” how to play the violin, or should I say, imitating a dying cat with overpriced bow and strings. Learning to read and play music was traumatising for all involved, and probably explains why I was one of those rare Asian kids who was never forced to play piano.

Being in lockdown during COVID-19 has freed me up to re-evaluate many things, including my struggle with perseverance and dismal lack of hobbies. With so much free time on my hands, I decided to pick up some brushes and acrylic paints, and to give landscape painting a go.

Learning to mix, blend and brush paints has not been easy, but it has given me a new appreciation of creation’s colours. My evening walks have quickly become a celebration of the Creator’s colour palette as I now see the richness of heaven’s hues brushed across land, water and sky.

I now see the majesty and power of God in every pink and golden sunset, and his tenderness and beauty in every pastel bloom. I have learned to appreciate the variety of trees on any given footpath, and to marvel at the varying shapes and tones that are weaved into bark, branches and leaves.

The process of painting has helped me to see that even the most talented human artist is merely brushing colours and forming images that a Creator God has predesigned. Initially, I set out to master a hobby so that I could feel better about myself, but God used creation’s colours to still my hurried heart and to lead me into worship.

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. (Psalm 19:1-2)

How does creation ‘speak’ to you? Let me know in the comments below!

Feature photo by russn_fckr on Unsplash