Tell Archippus: “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.” Colossians 4:17 (NIV)
A PAINTER LIVED WITH HIS SON in the city where he made a living out of selling his paintings on the sidewalk. He was little known and his paintings did not sell for much. He and his son barely made much to cover their living expenses but he had a passion for his work. He would wake up early before the sun rose and sit outside waiting for the first glimpse of the sun to paint his favorite scene. He would gaze at the rising sun from his window as it pushed gracefully over the horizon. With a thankful heart he would paint the scene of a glorious awakening of the majestic sun bathing the earth with a warm glow.
He had a reason for such gratitude. Several years ago, he fell from a scaffold whilst painting the side of a tall building and badly injured his back. He was kept in a hospital bed for several months, unable to move about.
He longed to peep outside the building to catch a glimpse of nature, like the rain falling, the sun rising, a flower blossoming, a butterfly, bee or bird flying. He couldn’t. He wondered to himself how easy it was to take lots of things around us for granted. He promised himself that if he had the opportunity to