"Open the Eyes of My Heart"
8" by 8" Oil on Canvas Board
NFS
Study done at Nancy Franke's Workshop in Atlanta, October 2013
To see her fabulous work, click here !!!
You know I hate it when God makes me come clean with you
guys – well, it was one of those days. Having been gone for a week, I had planned the day to catch up on everything
I didn’t do last week. After
all, Thanksgiving is just next week and there are bedrooms and bathrooms to
clean, turkeys to fry, and pies to buy (bet ya thought I was gonna say bake!) Then we do it all over again the next
week for Christmas –well, it seems like it’s that soon.
So, I was behind schedule and rushed to Schnucks for the
second time that day – had forgotten three things that grew in to six. Got a great parking space, and before I
even got out of my car, I heard the familiar jingle of the Salvation Army
bells. As I approached the double
doors, there was an older gentleman (probably about my age) manning the bucket
and sure enough, he (not really a vocalist) began singing Rudolph the Red Nosed
Reindeer. Yep, loud enough for the
whole parking lot to hear. Who
does that?
While silently admiring his boldness, since I was on a
mission I simply smiled and nodded as I passed by, then made a mental note to have
some cash in hand on my way out.
Shopping was a breeze but feeling a bit weary, I eyed the coffee bar on
the way out. The aroma won me
over, so I stopped for a cup of their special Holiday Blend Coffee – hoping it was just the
pick-me-up I needed. Juggling the
extra-large bag of dog food draped over the top of one of those new extra-small
carts, my purse, and my coffee, I trudged toward my car.
Jingle, jingle.
There he was again, only his tune had changed to Frosty the
Snowman. Well, Lord, I’ll have to donate another time – this is just
not convenient right now. I mean, I’d
have to find a place to sit my Gourmet Coffee so I could dig through my Designer
Purse to find some real money - doubt he takes plastic - not enough time.
A bit uncomfortable, I kept my eyes straight ahead, and
after unloading my groceries, I looked for a place nearby to return my
cart. The closest one was way down
the row and I didn’t want to walk that far (it was a bit chilly.) I guess when you get such a great
parking spot though, it’s just as easy to return it to the store.
Wait. Seriously? Looking to God, I said, “You
are gonna make me walk past him AGAIN, aren’t you?” No audible answer was heard. Didn’t need one. So, I sat my Gourmet Coffee in the
drink holder of my comfy car, dug out some cash, shuffled right up to the
singing gentleman and sheepishly made my donation, certain he was unaware of
the conflict that had just taken place within me. He said, “Oh, ma’am, you are making God smile.” Uh, not unless God thinks stubbornness
is funny. Replacing the cart, of course I
had to walk past him AGAIN. He showed me his handy ruler that he
brought to stuff all the money to the bottom of the bucket to make room for
more. I said, “You must be doing a
good job!” His response, “God is
doing a good job – He’s just using me.”
OMG, could You be any clearer, Lord?
Agreeing with him, I turned around, smiled, and said,
“Amen!” By the time I
returned to my car (seconds), he began singing, “Open the Eyes of My Heart,
Lord.” (I don’t make these things up.) I stopped asking questions, returned to my car, and sang that song out loud - softly, with the windows tightly rolled up - all the way home.
So, THIS AFTERNOON,
I pulled into Schnuck’s parking lot. Got a great parking space, and before I even got out of my car, I heard
the familiar jingle of the Salvation Army bells. As I approached the double doors, ……and I’m guessin you know
the rest of the story :)
“Today, if you hear
His voice, do not harden your hearts.”
Hebrews 3:15
