Day 22 - The Blank Canvas and the Colour Palette of Life

Every day is a chance at a new beginning. Every day is like being given a blank canvas, upon which we can draw or paint in any or all of the colours we want.

However, most days are a copy of the day before. We might add one or two slight changes, but when the canvases of our life are hung in heaven and we and others come to view them, there will be a sadness and a disappointment that they all looked alike.

Think about how many colours there are in the pallet of life and then think of all the shades of all those colours. There are thousands of variations that we could paint with every day. And yet we often stick to the same two or three. Why is that?

Because the other colours are unknown and untried. Despite the fact that God created every colour, we believe some are ‘better’ than others. But where do these beliefs come from?

They often come from our conditioning as a child when we learned that if we did one thing it drew pleasure from our parents or carers, whilst if we did something else, we would know their displeasure. Gradually, over time, we learnt to put away many of the colours in the pallet because when we saw them we were reminded of our shame in some way.

And so we found our ‘safe colours’ and have since then continued to paint with these. Yet God made all the colours and perhaps some of the colours you felt shamed into packing away, represent you more than all your safe colours. What if you are truly a lover of bright pink but have never used it? This is a time to get out the colours you’ve not used in a long time or maybe never. Perhaps you are a dancer, but now because you’re in your 80’s you believe those days have gone. They have not. You can still dance and if you can get over your embarrassment and inhibitions and reserve, you will draw the most wonderful pleasure for daring to paint on the blank canvas of today with a colour that so much better represents the heart of who you are than the safe colours.

Let today be the day when those who will see your canvasses in heaven say, “Ah, this is the day when he or she finally dared to begin to be who God created them to be. Alleluia”.

Don’t be afraid to dance. The world won’t stop turning and you might have a wonderful time.

How similar or different are your days canvases?

What are the two or three colours you paint with most days? What are the colours you would love to paint with?

As a child, which parts of you were frowned upon and you had to put away? How do you feel about those parts of you now? Would you like to get them back out?

How can you delve deeper into the suitcase of your being to discover parts of you which you have never known before?