I am the world’s lightest sleeper. I am also the proud fur-parent of a 12-year old cat who loves attention at 3:00am. This morning, she gifted me an additional hour of sleep before her ritual head-butting, walking over my head, and announcing her presence. Y’know, in case I somehow missed it before.

I laid there in silent protest, seething as a crescendo of purrs vibrated my pillow.

She finally got the picture and jumped off several minutes later, but my window was gone. Sleep would have to wait.

Instead, my thoughts jumped around until they landed on something I’d read in a recent morning devotion:

“…Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.” -Jeremiah 31:3

I’d only regarded God the Artist in the midst of a sunset, sunrise, or in a setting of equally stunning nature. I’d previously read verses referring to the Potter and the clay, but never really considered God to wield a pencil and draw. As an artist myself, I dared to relate.

How do I feel when I’m drawing?

• Whether I’m inspired or curious, I have a general end-game in mind.
• I typically use pen; there’s opportunity to refine, but not erase.
• I keep going until I’m pleased with my creation.

I thought about a painting I’d discovered in high school that grew to be one of my favorites: Girl Before a Mirror by Picasso. There is something about the colors and shapes that capture me every time I see it.

Of course, not everyone has the same interest in art. Some prefer impressionism over abstract; pop art over realism. The wonderful thing about art is how — for better or worse — it’s subjective. Like they say about beauty, it’s all in the eye of the beholder.

I don’t favor Picasso’s other works (those that show a nose where a mouth or ear should be) as much as this one, but I can still appreciate them as art.

If the same principle applies to God the Artist, who drew me with “lovingkindness” – even if I think He should’ve put a convex surface where He put a concave one – I suppose I should also appreciate myself and the body I live in, simply because it’s art.

Yes, fearfully and wonderfully made art.