Writing on the Wall

Image made up of comic strips

My grandmother was a pattern maker. Her job was to take a dress design.and turn it into a finished gown, complete with the instructions, or pattern used to create another one. I always admired the way she worked, with pins in her mouth and a thimble on her finger. Pins and needles could be found everywhere in her home, and whenever we stayed with her, we awoke to the sight of a half dressed form, with paper and fabric pinned to it.

Grandma was an artist, creating an original from a drawing.

I inherited none of her skill. Instead, I am a pattern finder. Perhaps because of her attention to detail, I developed the ability to see the common in the uncommon, the pattern behind the disarray. But that doesn't mean I am adept at reading the writing on the wall, at least not in the sense that we use that expression today.

Immediately the fingers of a human hand appeared and began writing on the plaster of the wall of the royal palace, next to the lampstand. The king was watching the hand as it wrote. Then the king's face turned pale, and his thoughts terrified him. His limbs gave way, and his knees knocked together. - Daniel 5:5-6
I can tell you, if God popped into my life and told me my fate, I wouldn't be too happy about it. Even though I seek clarity of purpose and a true vision for my future, I don't really know if I want him that involved that he is talking to me directly, especially if he is talking to no one else. It is one thing if I see the patterns in the lives of those around me and let them know how it could help or harm them. It is quite another thing to be on the receiving end of that advice. And if it is directly from God? Forgetaboutit!

"So from his presence the hand was sent and this writing was inscribed. And this is the writing that was inscribed: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, and PARSIN. This is the interpretation of the matter: MENE, God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end; TEKEL, you have been weighed on the scales and found wanting; PERES, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians." -Daniel 5:26-28
Maybe I am on the wrong end of this pattern recognition capability. I assume it is not useful for creative work, but maybe that's how Grandma was so successful at making dresses. She could see the pattern within the creation and she just drew it out so others could enjoy the same experience.

For her, the writing on the wall foretold great insight into the mind of the creator, in her case, the fashion designer.

If I work at it, maybe I can do the same. Maybe I can focus on the patterns of beauty within all people and things, so that the ruth can be revealed. What is that truth?

I am sure it isn't going to be as obvious as I would like to think. As I said, I'm not always good at reading the writing on the wall.