God’s objet trouvé

The Word of the Day is:

objet trouvé \AWB-zhay-troo-VAY\ noun : a natural or discarded object found by chance and held to have aesthetic value

Did you know?
"Objet trouvé" comes from French, where it literally means "found object." The term held that any object could be a work of art if a person recognized its aesthetic merit. "Objet trouvé" can refer to naturally formed objects whose beauty is the result of natural forces as well as to man-made artifacts (such as bathtubs, wrecked cars, or scrap metal) that were not originally created as art but are displayed as such.

Sometimes I think about how obviously each of us is an objet trouvé, something found and reworked into art. Even people who are rough around the edges, who on initial contact aren’t attractive for whatever reason, (mannerisms, their interests, or maybe they just grate on us,) become good friends. Instead of seeing them as different, our similarities become common ground.

This morning, I read the weekly blog from my college roommate – about truth-telling. About being real before God and other people. She encouraged us towards honesty and integrity, especially in a church setting. The desire to hide our flaws is common ground between people, that’s for sure.

But opening up to what we are and how God is transforming us shows everyone that we are God’s objet trouvé. A work of his grace and love towards “found objects.” He doesn’t expect perfection before we can come to him. Not even goodness.

Because our efforts fall so far short of what is needed, we just come as we are and depend on him for everything wholesome and right. How good to know that he not only polishes us up but makes us entirely new, and sets us on display for all the world’s wonder and amazement.

Read more:

An open rebuke is better than hidden love! … As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. Proverbs 27: 5, 17 NLT

"You have eyes—can't you see?" … Jesus took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. Then, spitting on the man's eyes, he laid his hands on him and asked, "Can you see anything now?" The man looked around. "Yes," he said, "I see people, but I can't see them very clearly. They look like trees walking around."

Then Jesus placed his hands on the man's eyes again, and his eyes were opened. His sight was completely restored, and he could see everything clearly." Mark 8:18, 23–25 NLT

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7 NIV