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The Babe I Saw
As I stood there examining the block of wood, I saw deep symbolism in the pattern. Having been recently “born again” myself, this babe represented me as I was on the eve of my salvation.
The babe has an eye for seeing.
"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the
kingdom of
God" (John 3:3).
Within the babe is a drop of water, perhaps even a teardrop.
"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the
kingdom of
God" (John3:5).
Around the teardrop is a flame of passion. It resembles the flame of a candle, but not one burning upright because the air around it is still. This flame bends in a direction pointing to the babe’s head, as though the Holy Spirit were passing by and echoing the words of John the Baptist, “Repent and be saved." The Greek word for 'repent' means ‘to think differently’. Repentance is the first step in being born again.
“Tongues of fire rested on each one of them, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak” (Acts 2:3-4).
Seven stars are about to come into the light of day, seven being the biblical number of completion. The seven stars in Rev. 1:20 are the angels of the seven churches. In Rev. 3:1 John speaks of the seven Spirits of God. In this piece the artist interprets each star as representing the potential for creativity that lies within the babe that is about to be born, the God-given gifts and talents this child will have and use in serving God throughout his or her lifetime.
There are varieties of gifts but the same Spirit. To each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. One and the same Spirit works in all things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills (1 Cor. 12:4, 7, 11).
On either side of the figure were diagonal rows of dots, like carefully planned blessings or events orchestrated by God occurring at regular intervals in the babe’s life.
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