Meaning

At the end of  last year, I reflected on what the past year had held, and what the new year might bring.  Some people choose a special word for the new year to be their intention, or make a myriad of “do better” resolutions, and in the past I’ve done both. But this year, instead of making any sort of specific resolution, I decided to intentionally engage in life-giving activities at least once a month.

Among several things that make me feel awake and alive is engaging with art – going to art museums, learning about different art techniques, meeting artists and listening to their stories and the processes of their expressions – I love it all.  I also started spending time exploring my own creative expression in workshops with a local artist in her downtown studio.

It was in one of these workshops that I first heard the music of the group Sleeping At Last.  One particular song performed by this group, titled “I’ll Keep You Safe” spoke volumes to me at a time when I was learning how to feel emotionally safe with the Holy Spirit. That’s a topic for another blog post. . . but there’s a verse within this song that says “As you build up your collection of pearls that you pull from the deep”.  I considered what these pearls from the deep were in my own life, and knew that they are those bits of truth and insights that can only be discovered and known through surviving trials, and learning to appreciate the gifts those trials bring.

Remembering that a pearl is created within a mollusk whenever a source of irritation enters into the shell, it’s this source of irritation that eventually becomes something of beauty and worth.  The very thing that caused pain is transformed into a gemstone.  This in no way is meant to glorify pain, ugh.  But in God’s purposes and plans, our trials can be transformed into things of beauty, and I know He loves to do this when we trust and rest in Him. This is what I continue to learn.

Just tonight I looked up a link on YouTube for the song I earlier referred to, and found this, I’ll Keep You Safe . Until now, I didn’t realize this song was part of the movie Up, but I do remember this segment being a tear-jerker. So keep that in mind if you decide to listen!

Until next time, try to take a few moments to consider the pearls in your own life,

~ Trish