A grain of wheat must...
Illustration
"A grain of wheat must fall to the ground and die. Then it makes many seeds (John 12:24, The New Century Version)." To die is a form of letting go. The apostles had to learn to let go of Jesus' physical presence and their desire to be in control. Pablo Picasso was born in Spain in 1881, but he lived in France from 1904 until his death in 1973. At one time, he employed a young ceramist named Jean Ramier, who baked the plates which Picasso painted. Jean was to marry his fiancee, Susanne. The young couple had rented a tiny, three-room apartment. Picasso said to Jean, "I must give you a present." On a wall in the living room, he painted a 15-foot mural. In the bedroom, he painted another mural. Two more murals adorned the combination dining room and kitchen. These murals were quite valuable. Jean and Susanne were delighted with Picasso's unusual present. In time, a first and a second child were born. The tiny apartment became cramped. Their nerves were frayed.
Constantly, they had to stop the children from marking the walls with crayons. The apartment had turned out to be dark, crowded, and damp. They held out for a long time. Finally, they had to let go. They moved to a large house where they were much happier. They had to die out of that apartment with its precious walls before they could really live as a family.
-- Chinn
Constantly, they had to stop the children from marking the walls with crayons. The apartment had turned out to be dark, crowded, and damp. They held out for a long time. Finally, they had to let go. They moved to a large house where they were much happier. They had to die out of that apartment with its precious walls before they could really live as a family.
-- Chinn
