Salt Leaven and Light

Some time ago, I painted flowers.

Painting relaxes me and helps to clear my mind of unwanted thoughts and emotions.

As an amateur painter, I learn as I go.

Today I learned more about paintbrushes and the strokes they make.

I experimented with different color combinations.

I painted objects I’ve never painted before.

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In addition to gaining these new bits of knowledge, today’s paint session taught me a valuable lesson.

As I painted, I realized just how limited I was with my 12 paint colors.

The red I was using looked more like a pinkish-purple.

The green wasn’t the shade I had hoped for.

The yellows were either too bright or too dull.

Making due with what I had, I combined colors to create a look that was close to what I had envisioned.

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After completing the pictures, I began to clean up.

As I was doing so, my foot accidentally hit the tray of watercolors and it fell to the ground, tossing paint squares in all directions.

I felt frustrated.

“Why did the paint tray have to tip over?”

“I don’t feel like cleaning up a mess right now!”

“If I had only been more careful, this wouldn’t have happened.”

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As I gently gathered the paint squares and placed them back in the case, I realized something for the first time.

There were more than 12 colors in the tray—there were 24 colors total, 12 colors layered on top of another 12 colors.

This additional tray of colors that was discovered under the original 12 colors just so happened to be the shades of color I had longed for while painting my flowers.

The colors had been there all along.

It took an accident–a difficult event that I didn’t want to have happen–for the additional 12 colors to be brought to my attention.

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I’ve spent much time this afternoon thinking about this experience.

How often do I feel frustrated with the trials in my life?

How often do I feel I would be much happier without them?

Yet, isn’t it true that the trials and afflictions we faithfully endure in this life bring us a depth of soul that we may not have otherwise obtained?

More compassion.

More patience.

More connection with God.

More gratitude.

More experience.

More joy.

In essence, more color.

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If we allow them to, trials have the ability to add more color to our lives, increasing the odds that the end result will be a masterpiece.

And who doesn’t want the end result of their life spent on earth to be a masterpiece?

Don’t each of us desire to live up to our potential and fulfill the mission we were sent here to complete?

Tonight, I’m feeling grateful for many things,

two of which are the newly discovered colors in my paint set,

and the frustrating event that brought them to me.

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“Your struggles do not define you, but they can refine you.” ~ Reyna Aberto

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Today’s paintings turned out well enough, but with the help of the additional 12 colors, my next painting just might be a “masterpiece”.

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In the furnace God may prove thee,

Thence to bring thee forth more bright,

But can never cease to love thee;

Thou art precious in his sight.

God is with thee, God is with thee;

Thou shalt triumph in his might.

[“Zion Stands with Hills Surrounded,” Hymns, no. 43, verse 3]