Devotionals

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In British Columbia our forests are being overtaken by the pine beetle, which threatens to decimate them in very short order. The trees are being harvested as quickly as possible, so that the wood can be used in buildings where the defects cannot be seen, as the pine beetle leaves a smokey blue streak in the wood which has not been saleable in foreign markets.

My husband, who loves to do carpentry, is building an entertainment centre on a budget. At the local lumber yard he selected the best pieces of 1 x 4 'beetle' wood and has been happily engaged in his workshop for he last few days. He has glued the strips together, planed and sanded them until satiny smooth, next he plans to apply an oil based stain and he was showing me the effect he hopes to achieve.

"Anything wet shows the grain" he said, as he dipped his finger in the coffee I had just brought him, and wiped it over the wood to show me. The grain of the wood took on a beauty that was not evident before, the beetle wood gleamed pale gold, with a denim blue streak through it. It was lovely.

I thought of the bible verse that says God will give them beauty for ashes, and the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified. Isaiah 61:3 KJV

If we allow God to work in our lives He can bring out the beauty in what the world chooses to discard.

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