My brother is able to stack rocks into works of art. He makes them balance on one another in ways that seem impossible to the untrained eye. From the pictures I’ve included you can see some of what he has accomplished.

In the past he said, while working on a stack he finds himself talking to God. As well as sensing God’s presence in a unique way. My brother has to have the right focus, then God directs him to work the impossible.

Recently, he commented that it’s the imperfect rocks that stack the best. Each rock must have something that makes it rough or dented, or creates an imperfection on its surface, even a tiny pin hole works. It’s imperfect rocks that work together to create a masterpiece.

The moment he said that I was struck with how God uses the imperfect to accomplish a goal or mission. The scriptures are full of broken, incomplete, sketchy and hesitant people. Think about the twelve disciples or Paul or Onesimus (Philemon; Colossians 4:9) in the New Testament. When I think about The Old Testament I find Joseph’s brothers (Genesis 37, 57:20), Jacob (Genesis 25-27), Balaam (Numbers 22-24), and Gideon (Judges 6-7). I’m sure there are more that could be pointed out but I hope we can see from these examples that when God has a mission to accomplish, He uses whomever He chooses. No matter how imperfect they may be.

The tiny steps they take to follow His requests or instructions will allow God to grow them. At some point these people had to lean on God for direction so that their faith grew stronger, their knowledge of God strengthened. In the end, they find victories for The Almighty whom they worship and serve.

May we be like crooked rocks that can be used together with others to create works of art that bring glory to God.