By Katie Reid
College can often be a stressful and busy time, so it’s essential that students carve out a portion of their week to relax and unwind. God would have us emulate Him in every aspect of our lives. This includes taking the time to rest in the goodness of His creation. As students, we are surrounded by opportunities to learn in and outside of the classroom, and it’s often in these moments of rest that we can find a greater understanding of His love for us.
My favorite way to rest is by watching historical documentaries on YouTube while crocheting. I highly suggest a creative hobby like crocheting for anyone who struggles to rest without having something to do with their hands. The rhythm and pattern of crocheting help to calm my thoughts as I channel my anxieties into the mindless project in front of me. I’m also a history buff, so I love to turn on my favorite YouTube channel and lose myself in the entrancing narratives of history.
A few weeks ago, I was watching a video detailing the architectural styles of English cathedrals in which the narrator mentioned something interesting about the creation of Rose Windows. According to various accounts, the artists behind these windows would often make intentional mistakes in the creation of stained glass so that the imperfection of their creation would point to God’s perfect creation.
After he said this, I looked over the project that I had been crocheting. I had made many errors, but the project was still beautiful altogether. I am an imperfect being, affected by Adam’s fall. I can participate in God’s creative nature and produce beautiful works of art, but my creations will always be as imperfect as my nature. My attempts at beauty and perfection lead me to trust in God, the perfect Creator.
These thoughts brought me a new perspective of these often-quoted verses from Psalm 139: “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth” (Psalm 139:13-15, ESV). God is the ultimate Craftsman, forming the perfection of our frames within our mother’s womb. There is value and dignity in the lives of unborn children, for they are a perfect creation of God. There are no mistakes in His knitting. He did not make a mistake when He created each one of us. We are fearfully and wonderfully made. Praise be to God!