Visualizing the Restoration and Resurrection of a Masterpiece

Can you visualize the restoration and resurrection of a masterpiece? 

I see an artist leaning over a battered painting, meticulously cleaning, checking photos for accuracy and precise details, gently returning it to its former striking beauty. The restorer must have thorough knowledge of the art, just the right skills and material ready and available, and a deep patience and love for the work.  The painstaking process takes a long time and attentive care and devoted determination to resurrect a work of art, the magnum opus, and bring it back to life.

On our recent pilgrimage through Germany, how Europe values and maintains her style, architecture and beauty amazes me. Walking the streets, you do feel like someone has dropped you into the middle ages.

Dresden Germany – Visualizing the Restoration and Resurrection.

Dresden Germany was one of those spots. But her history made the beauty we experienced even more cherished.

In the 18^th century Dresden became known as the “Florence of the Elbe” due to the city’s beauty and love of art. Magnificent baroque buildings displayed wonderful paintings and sculptures along a breathtaking setting of the Elbe River. She was one of the most picturesque cities in Europe.

Even the Allies in World War II knew of her beauty and for much of the war avoided air raids there.  Refugees gathered in Dresden in 1945 believing that area would not be bombed. But they were wrong.

On February 13-15, 1945 British and U.S. bombers attacked. It is controversial all the reasons behind the decision to bomb Dresden, but one possibility was to force the Germans to surrender and to weaken morale.

The devastation was immense. Eight square miles destroyed. Few buildings stood. The estimated casualties ranged from 35,000 to 135,000 people dead. The firestorm that occurred from the bombings, whose temperature is estimated to have peaked at 1800 degrees Fahrenheit, spread rapidly across the city like a hurricane. Those hiding in cellars and shelters had little protection from the poisonous hot air. One of the centerpiece buildings, the Frauenkirche (The Church of the Lady), the 18^th century Protestant cathedral, collapsed in the aftermath.

But like a phoenix, the German people restored the leveled and destroyed Dresden and resurrected her beauty once again. The Soviets, when occupying East Germany, did some rebuilding, but much of the real work occurred after Germany was unified in1989.

Restoration and Resurrection

The before and after photographs haunted me as much as her beauty.  As I walked in the very midst, in the heart of Dresden, I felt her heartbeat. Alive once again.

Amazing story of restoration and resurrection.

God’s Story of Restoration and Resurrection

Think about what in your life needs restored. We all have experiences that take our breath away, scorch our souls, and destroy our spirit. All of us face firestorms that leave deep scars.

Yet God is the great restorer.

He is the artist leaning over us like we are His battered painting. He meticulously cleans us, attuning to precise details, and gently returning us to our former striking beauty that He once created.

The Restorer knows us deeply and holds just the right skills and material ready and available for our restoration. The Lord of Deep Patience loves to shape and mold and revive us to new life.  The painstaking process takes a long time but HIs attentive care and devoted determination resurrects us, His work of art, His magnum opus, reemerges as a masterpiece of beauty where once only devastation existed.

Thank you Lord of all beauty for your restoration and resurrection.

I hope you are enjoying my reflections from my recent pilgrimage through Germany. I compiled into a free download some of the German Prayers, Blessings and Quotes we used on the trip or that I found elsewhere. Please just click on the button below to get this resource and I hope you enjoy its words.

 Click Here to get the resource guide! Thanks!

Let’s share with one another times of beauty and restoration you have experienced on your spiritual journey.