The one that began it all

One of the pleasant results of writing about a specific elephant (or group of elephants) each Friday is that I’m caused to examine each one in a way I’ve never done.  I notice characteristics I never appreciated before.  I’m also led to deeper thinking about my spiritual life and the innumerable ways God works to achieve His purposes in my tiny, insignificant life.

Had I not received this particular elephant some 30 years ago, would I have amassed the more than 120 elephants in my collection now?  Would I have these mementos of various events and relationships throughout my life?  Probably not.   This collection gives me a creative opportunity to relive special experiences, to remember particular relationships in a way that might not have been available otherwise.

That’s why this elephant--the one that began it all--is especially meaningful to me.  It was a gift to me from my youngest brother and his first wife…at the time just a random stone carving to sit on our coffee table.  And for awhile that’s all it was.  Leave it to Mom to start the collection rolling when she gave me the elephant mama and baby of which I wrote about on February 4, of this year.   Thanks Mom!

Anyway, as I was gazing at this elephant this morning, a scripture verse popped into my mind-- “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus.”  Philippians 1:6.  What a promise, so full of hope!  I think the reason why that verse came to mind is that the day I received this very elephant, was the “birth” of my elephant collection. (I suppose one could also argue that there was not collection until I received the next elephant and my intention of collecting elephants began.)

Even so, everything has a beginning.  And it begins with presence.  This elephant’s presence marked the beginning (although unknown at the time) of a unique collection. So it is with each of us and our unique relationship to God and His glory.  God’s presence—even without our knowing—began a “good work” in each of us which continues to growinto whatever God intends…always and only for His glory.  This in spite of ourselves! And though I often lose hope or sight of it, Paul's words in Philippians remind me and always I am comforted.