“Notice the way God does things; then fall into line.
Don’t fight the ways of God,
for who can straighten out what he has made crooked?”
Ecclesiastes 7:13 NLT
___

I’ve heard from a couple different sources now that there is something special about the number three with regard to art and creating visually appealing images.

• In photography: The most interesting way to place images within a frame is done by dividing up the space into thirds horizontally. Then, use those lines as guides to where the main subject of the photo should go. For example, the horizon should always be in the top third or the bottom third, not in the middle as I am naturally inclined to do.
• In home decor: Odd numbers are usually more visually appealing than even numbers in home decor. The best is three. For example, if I were to put pictures on the wall, I should do so in a grouping of three, rather than four, to create the most stunning results.

Isn’t that interesting? I don’t know how most of the general public naturally thinks, but these minor tips were actually challenging for me to integrate. I am so inclined towards even. I CRAVE it. Give me centered. I want symmetrical. Not just visually, but in my daily life, too. If there is a conflict, I don’t feel quite “right” until it’s resolved. If something was extremely challenging for me as a child, I make sure to be extra attentive to it with my children. I even try to make all my apple slices all the same size when I’m cutting them. (Don’t judge…)

But my Bible reading this week drew me back to the beauty and benefit of something not being “perfect” or even or symmetrical. Solomon, in all his God-given wisdom said in Ecclesiastes:

“Notice the way God does things; then fall in line. Don’t fight the ways of God, for who can straighten out what he has made crooked?” Ecclesiastes 7:13 NLT

God created the trees they are gorgeous even though they aren’t symmetrical. God made the grass and not a single blade of that is exactly the same shade or shape yet I LOVE the feel of it beneath my feet and I love to watch it shiver and shake on a windy day. I love that he has made me different from my family and friends and love them for their differences.

And I want to learn to be comfortable with un-resolved conflicts. I want to learn to embrace the days that don’t balance out like I would like, with even amounts of running around and rest. I want to learn to find joy in long seasons of struggle without comfort, trusting that Heaven will restore even this.

God is the great equalizer, and even he is a TRIUNE God… it seems that this “rule of three” is EVERYWHERE!! If he has made elements of my life “crooked,” I want to shift my standard of beauty to embrace everything from the days of long waiting to the asymmetrical apple slices. I want to fall in line.

 ___

Dear Lord, thank you for making beauty that challenges me to discover more about the nature of your will. It far supersedes my understanding but I will gladly embrace Solomon’s advice to fall in line. Thank you for the reminder that your design is perfect and unshakable even if it appears to me as crooked. Amen.