New

Revelation 21 says...

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.

2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.

4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."

5 And he who was seated on the throne said, 

"Behold, I am making all things new." 

Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."

Earlier this week we took a special outing after school let out.  We jumped into the truck and headed up the mountain a little ways to visit The Apparent Project.  Although I've been there before, I was struck once again by the beauty of the art, the beauty of the vision, and the beauty of the larger story that is told in this place.

If you've not heard about it, The Apparent Project is an organization whose mission is to provide Haitian parents with a skill and work so that they can support their families.  There is an epidemic in Haiti of families being separated.  Children are sent to orphanages or put into restavek situations (indentured servitude) 
because their parents cannot support them.  Organizations like The Apparent Project work to keep families together and empower parents to live full and purposeful lives.  The Apparent Project helps mothers and fathers know the satisfaction and accomplishment of working and supporting themselves.  We know work is a gift that God gave to His creation before the fall, and The Apparent Project helps to restore the gift of work to Haitians who have very few vocational opportunities.

As you walk into the shop, which has been updated and expanded since last year, you are greeted by a beautiful mural of a butterfly.  "Papillon" is the Creole name for the shop.  A butterfly is a perfect symbol of the greater purpose and vision of this organization.  It's all about God making things new.  

The Haitian artisans take garbage and materials that have been discarded by society and turn them into works of art.  From jewelry made from cereal boxes to Christmas ornaments made from tin cans, the artists turn waste into wonder.  If you've not yet visited their website and watched their video, I highly recommend it!  I have to confess that this idea of new life pulls hard on my heartstrings.  The song that leads you through the video Beautiful Things echoes the hope-filled promises we are given in Revelation.  One day our God will make all things new.  Until that day, we live in the present where we see glimpses of restoration, like in the eyes of a thankful mother who can care for her children and in the beauty of the creative work of an artisan.  These glimpses of God's restoration are just like the caterpillar's metamorphosis into a beautiful butterfly.  How we long for the day when we too will be made new and we will finally see the completion and culmination of Christ's work of grace and love!

Beautiful Things

Gungor

All this pain
I wonder if I'll ever find my way?
I wonder if my life could really change at all?
All this earth
Could all that is lost ever be found?
Could a garden come up from this ground at all?

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

All around
Hope is springing up from this old ground
Out of chaos life is being found in You

Oh, you make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

You make me new, You are making me new
You make me new, You are making me new

Much love in Him, Jessie