Where the Sidewalk Starts

"When you come looking for me, you'll find me. "Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed." -Jeremiah 29:13 (Message)

Sidewalk chalk is my my preferred medium of art. I just bought a box a few days ago and my sisters and I enjoyed decorating our driveway with an artistic "Happy Easter" greeting. I have kept the box on my desk for the past week, and it served as motivation to get through whatever I was working on, in hopes of taking advantage of the wonderful weather once again.

Finally, today a friend and I were able to break out the sidewalk chalk once again, and we took a walk around campus to find an inconspicuous location on which to draw our springy masterpiece. We chose a concrete wall behind a dorm building, and went to work scripting "What a wonderful world" onto the dingy gray monolithic block. We still took care to details even though we knew our artwork wouldn't be getting much eye-traffic, being in the boondocks of the campus.

It turned out beautifully, and I actually hope a few people stop by and take a closer look at our proportionally correct globe, tree with multi-colored leaves, and our initials "carved" into the tree. The details make it beautiful.

It occurred me that God's creation is a little bit like this. God creates with a transformational brush, which doesn't just cover up dinginess with a stroke of chalk that will be easily washed away, but rather transforms things into something inherently beautiful.

I am also beginning to think that if our mural was hidden betwixt the crags and shadows of the campus, where few would find it, then what might I be missing? How many chances at sublime beauty are hidden from the average wanderer's view?

It only makes sense to me that God would tuck away a few aesthetic wonders for those who avidly seek them. So be a thrill-seeker! Try to find what God might be hiding in the secret places. When I did this, it led me to a bed of pine needles by the babbling stream, where the sun hit me perfectly. God will make sure you are not disappointed.

Make it a point to venture to the top of a mountain, to follow a river until you find a waterfall, and to take a little trip off of the beaten path. Perhaps you will discover a beautiful part of creation, or maybe you will just stumble upon a chalk mural drawn on a block of concrete.

Purple Crayons, White Crayons

"Life is the art of drawing without an eraser." - John Gardner

There are many things that intrigue me, and one of them is the existence of the white crayon in every Crayola crayon box. They are basically just wax. They don't really show up on black paper, you know. That's what chalk is for. I've often pondered this, but it wasn't until this past summer that I found it laughable. I had a special needs camper named Norma who loved coloring. The thing was, she would always color with white crayons. This always made me chuckle because it was clear that her already white rabbit was not getting any whiter. And yet, the white crayon is a staple in every colorer's crayon box.

Except for Harold. As you may remember from when you were 6 years old, Harold has a purple crayon. With his purple crayon in his paper world, he drew the world as he wanted it to be and needed it to be.


He drew in windows to look out of, paths to walk on, and a bed to sleep in. He drew his favorite pies, and fearsome dragons. His world was drawn in bold purple with no eraser.

The difference between Norma and Harold goes deeper than the color of their crayons. Norma's white crayon made no difference on her page. She could safely go out of the lines without anyone noticing. But Harold's purple crayon set things in stone and unabashedly changed his reality.

So it is with life. Too often we pick the white crayon in the box so that nobody can see if we make a mistake. And what we do draw makes no difference in the scheme of things.

I urge you to opt for the purple crayon, and to draw your world unashamedly, coloring it with the things you wish to see happen, and the things that bring you joy.