Tapestries

My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

Psalm 139:15

This weekend I was reminded once again how beautifully our lives are intertwined with the lives of those around us. I've often been troubled when God "stirred the pot" and moved us to a different church fellowship, but Saturday's service was a beautiful reminder of the tapestry God is weaving as He works in our lives.

I was not well acquainted with the deceased, but her daughter in law is a very dear friend. The officiating church held people from several area churches and I found an all but unnoticed connection to many in attendance. Our lives have touched and twirled together through the years as though God has been knitting a secret masterpiece. Many of those people's lives have touched mine in ways they may not know.

There was the family's former pastor whose brother years ago married my cousin. There was the elderly woman whose grandson I used to babysit. And there were members of both our present congregation and former ones, gathered to pay their respects and give their support to the family.

As he did for my mother's memorial service back in February, the pastor gave a message using the well marked Bible of the departed. In Psalm 139:15 she had made a notation by the word "wrought". "Embroidery" was penned in the margin. Her life was God's embroidery...

I couldn't help but wonder what the finished tapestry looks like to God as He has woven mankind together through the ages. Our lives are wound up and knitted together with not only the lives of those living today, but those who came before us and those who follow. It's a pretty incredible thought.

(Afghans courtesy of Mom.)