Choose the Frame

They say that eyes are the window to your soul. Optometry offices may fill a medical need, but they are so much more than that! Think total style makeover! I recently updated my prescription for glasses at the local Wal-Mart. Like others, I was asking for opinions and consulting the mirror as I went for the most flattering frames. After all, updating your lenses is really a missed opportunity if you don’t reinvent yourself with some chic eyewear. This past weekend, I visited with my 88-year-young aunt who paints every day. I love visiting her home for “art gallery conversations” because they always lead to a Eureka moment! This month’s topic is dedicated to Aunt Phyllis and her insights.

If you have the right frame of mind--it is much like painting a picture. According to my artist aunt, the right frame brings out the beauty and clarity of the painting by enhancing the truth within it! The frame can have a positive or negative finishing effect on the entire work to either make or break it. An ornate frame can amplify even the simplest scene. The real purpose of the frame is to bring about depth, balance, and cohesion. Did you know that the frame is the most important choice? It can elevate the canvas and add value to the entire work. Likewise, choosing the right frame of mind will change your entire life!

But there are times when the situation is so perfect that a frame would detract! One very striking abstract painting of my aunt’s is a good example; it did not need the frame. The true beauty of the piece had been trapped inside of a large black frame that had been gifted to her, but she finally set it free! It was simple. And perfect. Don’t let someone else impose their dream on you! This painting was good enough to stand alone and SO ARE YOU! Wisdom is knowing when to move forward because the present frame no longer adds value or serves its purpose. The power of the past is that knowledge from that season takes you to the next level. In fact, the past can’t be lost; it fuels your future.

My aunt approaches art with a whimsical flair but also with intention. Fanny Nanny, the goat painting, has a beautiful frame that was chosen to blend in rather than distract. There are moments in life where we must accept reality for what it is and learn to appreciate it. Conversely, with her eccentric peacock painting, my aunt decided that he needed an unconventional frame to bring in the wow factor! She explained that sometimes chaos is the visual effect that she wants. Occasional conflict is essential for growth to occur! We need to leave our comfort zones and shake things up now and then to avoid stagnation.

My cousin, Haley, and I were talking about frames when she added a poignant insight. Did you know that the right frame of mind can move you towards the outcome that you desire? Consider how many stories of unlikely survivors you have heard—the common denominator is often the mindset. While one person trapped in the freezing weather thinks of survival and warmth, the other allows despair and thoughts of death to dominate. Identical conditions do not necessarily lead to identical outcomes. While secularists may call it “positive thinking” or “manifesting,” God simply calls it “faith.” The fact is that two people look at the same situation and see different scenes based on their frame!

"I have learned to kiss the wave that throws me against the Rock of Ages"- Charles Spurgeon. Trials can lead to greater dependence on God, but your mindset matters. Reframe your challenge as an opportunity to overcome! My pastor recently declared, “What you cry about today may be tomorrow’s blessing.” When Jesus attended a wedding where the wine had run dry, He saw a solution when others saw water. The frame of faith always makes room for a bigger picture. I recently chose a curved wedding band to complement my princess cut solitaire engagement ring. Experienced jewelers know that the right setting adds distinction to an otherwise simple stone without overpowering the main attraction. The frame is important because it represents an expected outcome.

We just celebrated Labor Day—but this holiday also marks the most intense hurricane to hit the U.S. Storms are powerful, yet adventurous types chase them for the adrenaline jolt! This month has the perfect conditions for the strongest storms. No matter how well-prepared you may be, fear can gain a foothold if you don't choose the frame with the thick faith coating! My aunt painted an adorable rat when she was faced with their unwanted presence in her home—She chose the creativity lens rather than the anxiety lens as her coping mechanism. The canvas is yours, so paint with abandon! Whatever season you are in right now, choose the frame of hope and watch everything change!

Philippians 4:8 (MSG)

Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious - the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.

*Point to Ponder: The epidemic of hatred is real, but you can opt for the frame of love and view others through the lens of the cross!