This week I took my grandchildren to a session on space at Goldthorpe Library. (Fantastic free workshop!) They learnt to make a rocket (using paper, a straw and pipette) and made their own colourful ‘universe’ in a glass jar with coloured water and cotton wool. Their last activity was to create a space picture using filter paper, felt pens and water, learning in the process about chromatography and the separation of colours.
It was rather magical to watch narrow bands of colour spread throughout the filter paper creating new patterns as just the tiniest droplets of water were added.
As I watched this process, I was reminded that our lives are rather like the colours of those felt pens. We can make beautiful pictures with our lives, but the patterns when water was added became even more beautiful. When God is added to our lives, the colours become even more beautiful; the picture becomes more interesting and certainly spreads much further.
The analogy is far from perfect, but I was reminded of the pervasive nature of the kingdom of God, how that small mustard seed can grow into a large flowering tree, how a small amount of yeast can affect a whole batch of dough, how something small can lead to something big. (Matt 13:31-33) God’s kingdom may not initially look impressive, but it can become something vast and beautiful as God works in ordinary lives to spread His love and kindness to all.