Sewing

I have surprised myself recently with a new-found talent for sewing.  I have been hand-stitching cushion covers, bunting and fabric gifts, and have been thoroughly enjoying myself.

The project that I have been working on for the longest is a large patchwork cushion cover.  I have only got two rows left to go and I am excited about seeing what it will look like when it is all finished.  It is not the neatest thing ever (especially if you take a look at the back), but I am proud of it, especially as I never thought that I would be very good at anything involving a needle.  It is a jumble of odds and ends of different fabrics: some 'vintage' fabrics from Mum's old sewing basket, some off-cuts from previous sewing endeavours and some beautiful Cath Kidston squares.  They have different patterns and colours, but they all work together to create an overall cushion cover.

In the same way, the Bible describes us (as a church, both locally and globally) being sewn together in a tapestry that reflects God and His love:

"I want you woven into a tapestry of love, in touch with everything there is to know of God.  Then you will have minds confident and at rest, focused on Christ, God's great mystery."

[Colossians 2:2 MSG]

My patchwork cushion would be rather dull if it was all made from the same fabric.  It is the different patterns and colours of each of the pieces which make it beautiful.  Individually, they are pretty fabrics but, together, they look even prettier; each square draws out the different colours of the surrounding squares.  Similarly, the church would look rather dull if we were all identical.  It is our differences which best reflect the different aspects of our diverse God.

Rather than feeling that we all ought to be the same, we should embrace and celebrate our differences.  One of my favourite verses expresses this beautifully -

"Since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvellously functioning parts in Christ's body, let's just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren't."

[Romans 12:6 MSG]

Whilst I continue to sew, I hope that this verse weaves its way into my heart, so that I can celebrate my own gifts and those of others.  So that I can 'draw out' the aspects of God that I see in those around me and so that, together, we can weave a tapestry of love that reflects who God is.