There are many loose threads in my life. Some of the threads have frayed from old fabrics way back and some are fresh new fabrics where the selvage is not as ragged. Our house in Williamsburg has fabric curtains which were in our first town home. We made these curtains. I say “we” because it was a team effort with Bill helping me iron while I sewed the curtains on a snowy evening in January of 1982. We have brought these curtains to our other homes, incorporating them into the decor. My closet has all types of hanging clothes which are made of different fabrics. There are woolen suits, mother-of -the -bride dresses, summer cover ups, children’s coats and hats that I could not part with, and even my going away outfit that I wore 34 years ago after my wedding. One friend said that you always have to have a place in your closet to hang your memorabilia. Throughout our home there are chairs with fabric that have seen their share of love and comfort. It occurred to me recently that if I were to take a small piece of all these different fabrics and make a quilt of my life, what would it look like? Would it make sense? Would it mean something to anyone else? How would you connect all the pieces so it would have some form of order and purpose? My friends who make quilts use a common thread to connect all the disjointed pieces. This can be tediously done by hand or one can use a machine to connect them. There are some parts of the quilt that might look like they don’t fit and that is where one might take their Bernia sewing machine and use their strongest and longest stitches to accentuate why they do. How often I have wanted to do this when an event or a person looked like they didn’t fit with what I considered the “right fabric or right piece.” If I could make it stronger or work harder to find the solution, then I could rest. The fancy sewing machine or my strongest efforts were not the answer.

I have found, and know, what the common thread is that pulls together the random fabrics in my life. Jesus is the thread that makes it all come together.

“For by him all things were created: things in heaven and things on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” Colossians 1:16 (NIV)

If Christ was not living in my heart I would think that all these pieces of my life were disjointed and had no meaning. He is the constant thread.

“He stood me up on a wide open field; I stood there saved-surprised to be loved.
God made my life complete when I placed all the pieces before him.” 2 Samuel 22:20-21 (MSG)

Well, what does one do when they want to share what Christ is doing in their life? How is He the thread that keeps all the wild and funny, happy and sad, thoughtful and random parts of our lives moving together? We share with friends, family, strangers and whoever might want to listen. In this day and age I’ve heard that you can have a blog. For those who know how “un-techie” I am, you’re probably pulling yourself off the floor now. As you’re jumping right up or having to use your 911 beeper to have the paramedics come and pull you up, know what you read was right. The Lord has been weaving so much of my life together and I would like to pass this on. I can never promise what old or new fabric is going to be pulled out. Hopefully it will give a glimpse into what God has done and continues to do with someone who has some old fabrics to patch but has some great ribbons, sequins and buttons to put on the new life that is going on within me. Paul’s letter to the Colossians says:

“Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ- that’s where the action is. See things from His perspective.” Colossians 3:1-2 (MSG)

I have been walking with Jesus for 43 years and everyday He shows me new ways to look at life from His perspective. It happens when I open my eyes.