Divine Reflection
“The pebble takes in the rays of light that fall upon it, but the diamond flashes them out again”.
This is a quote from the journal of an artist turned missionary, Lilias Trotter, at an early age as she considered her God given calling in life. She would later be introduced to a world-renowned artist of the 19th century, John Ruskin, who recognized her talent and extended the opportunity to work as an apprentice under his leadership. As quoted in the book Rembrandt is in the Wind, “Though many coveted Ruskin as a teacher, he coveted Lilias Trotter as a pupil. He pleaded with her to study with him: (saying) ‘I pause to think how I can convince you of the marvelous gift that is in you. The not seeing or feeling the power that is in you is the most sure and precious sign of it’. No one had ever pursued Lilias for her artistic talent, and suddenly one of the most famous voices in art wanted to train her.”
As the story goes, she poured into her life as an artist in studying under John Ruskin, and equally focused on her ministry in serving the destitute women of the city at the local YWCA, and even helping to open a restaurant that would serve those the traditional restaurants would not. At a certain point, her duplicitous efforts seemed to reach a fork in the road; her art was suffering and her heart was burdened, and a decision loomed. The details of her unfolding story are fascinating, but she would later write in her journal saying, “I see clear as daylight now, that I cannot dedicate myself to painting in the way that he means and continue to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness”. As she refocused her life and gave her life to ministry at the expense of her art, she sensed that a burden had lifted and would later write, “And like independence is the characteristic of the new flood of resurrection life that comes to our souls as we learn this fresh lesson of dying… the liberty of those who have nothing to lose, because they have nothing to keep. We can do without anything while we have God.”
What resulted from there was a journey of divine beauty that took her from a ministry in the streets of London to the mission field of North Africa. The rest of the story is amazing, and people like Elizabeth Elliott (Jim Elliott) would later take note and enter the mission field themselves. As Lilias Trotter wrote in her journal at an early age prior to her journey into art and missions, “We ourselves are saved to save. We are made to give, to let everything go if only we may have more to give. The pebble takes in the rays of light that fall upon it, but the diamond flashes them out again. Every facet is means, not simply for drinking more in, but for giving more out. A flower that stops short of its flowering misses its purpose”.
As we consider our God given giftedness and His calling in our lives, consider Lilias’ story. She had a clear path before her to pursue worldly treasure and earthly fame, yet she pursued a path of treasure in heaven and His exaltation. In the last two years of her life as she lay bed ridden in declining health, she had a map of Algeria taped to the ceiling above her bed, and she continued to pray for the people she was called to serve and love. It was in Algeria where she witnessed His divine beauty that surpassed all, and in a state of declining health, she still had purpose and joy and peace. In her final moment of life, she commented to her friends, “I see a chariot with six horses”. Her friend would ask, “Are you seeing beautiful things, Lily? She said, “Yes, I see many, many beautiful things”.
“When she came to believe that her gifts were not her own, she said the rudder of her life was set for the purposes of God”. (Ramsey, Rembrandt is in the Wind)
May our gifts, too, be for His glory.
