The Parable of the Layered Paper Cut Illustrations

Credit: Rossana Mendes Fonseca

Are you familiar with layered paper cut illustrations?

This past week's reflections I think I can best articulate with the help of a parable of sorts: the parable of layered paper cut illustrations...

I am learning that so much of my life is learning how to properly organize and order. Take the illustration above for example. The order of each layer is central to the successful completion of it. If the order of paper were to be reversed, we'd simply see a blue piece of paper with a small whole cut in its middle. Since this illustrator has masterfully ordered each layer correctly though, we now get to enjoy the culminating wonder and beauty of this art piece.

I think Heavenly Father is trying to teach me how to properly order and organize my desires, my priorities, my timeline. More specifically, this past week I've been able to learn more clearly how I can better order my financial and physical "papers" (providentially, the two areas I fasted about for this month.)

As you know from recent posts, finances for example, has been what's been sitting on my heart and mind. Ironically though, as I'm learning how to better order my papers--my vision, my focus, my desires--I have actually felt a need to simplify my income-making obligations... I have felt very good about redirecting my time and energy and efforts to things (which I have yet to identify) other than just trying to make money. And as I've tried to follow my heart, each item has fallen into place or dropped out of my life. Today being the final dropped item.

My working-from-home two days a week has been approved. Workload has been very calm due to the academic nature of my organization (i.e. it's summer break). And I'm down to my three (favorite) Korean students (of which I've already informed my boss, that I will no longer be accepting new students and I'll try to continue only for as long as these three students are with us). My last and final income opportunity was tied up today: "Unfortunately, this cohort was canceled due to low enrollment."

I actually felt so much peace and maybe even a little relief when I received the email (a.k.a. God's gentle confirmation).

I know the money will come. I just know it. That final piece of blue paper with the smallest hole will come and complete my picture. But for now, God needs me to focus on these first layers with the biggest circular cut-out and the next layer with a couple of whales. God wants me to continue to practice relying on Him through His daily bread. He wants me to continue to experience and see what it's like to be without, to sacrifice, and to humbly accept the kindness of others. He wants me to solidify these first layers of paper of seeking the kingdom so that He can then bless me with the latter layers of paper of riches.

The physical was another thing I learned about this past week. Although my fast was specifically about my weight-loss and strength-training efforts, I came to better understand how this parable applies to physical intimacy. In my very conservative childhood, I understood my teaching to equivalate arousal and sexual expression as carnal and devilish. Over the years I've come to see the ways in which I misinterpreted and misunderstood. But this past week I feel like I've come to a deeper understanding that order is the key. Get the first layer of paper with the biggest circular cut-out of love there, love of the purest form. Make sure the layer of paper with a couple of marital whales are in place. And then allow that which it inspires to be expressed.

It's been a thoughtful past few days. A lot of stillness (probably resultant from the simplification of employment obligations). And it's brought a lot of peace. A clearer vision of the order in which I need to continue to prioritize. And a deepening of love and appreciate for Christ, whose atoning power and grace makes it possible for me to trial-and-error how to make the right cut-outs and then how to correctly layer them to maximize my potential and truly be perfected, to be completed.