Manifold in Color (feat. Tatiana Cardona)

Manifold [man-uh-fohld]: (source)

having many different forms, features, or elements
many and various
not capable of being counted, enumerated, or numbered, hence, indefinitely numerous
vast in quantity or number, profuse, abundant
having more than one layer
being designated for something for many reasons

"Summer and winter, springtime and harvest

sun, moon, and stars in their courses above

join with all nature in manifold witness

to Thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love."

(Thomas Chisholm, 'Great Is Thy Faithfulness')

Something that has always stressed me out in job interviews is the prompt, "so tell me a little about yourself!" I know, this should be an easy one right? But it makes me so anxious - my palms get a little sweaty, I overcompensate by smiling too much as I think to myself, where do I even start? Do I only talk about my employment history? Do I talk about where I'm from? How is this person going to get a complete, accurate picture of who I am in just a few sentences?

Whenever I sing that hymn, the phrase "manifold witness" always sticks out to me. All of creation exists as a witness to the character of God. And when you look at nature, in all its intricacies and colors and seasons, you can't help but wonder how multifaceted our God must also be to have created such a kaleidoscope of beauty. In fact, His character and abilities are limitless - unable to be confined to one idea or another. There's no end to the things He's creating and there's no end to what we can discover about Him.

Meditating on the intricacy and depth of God's power and creativity can be so overwhelming that the only natural responses are to either hide from Him or to worship Him. Psalm 139 tells us the former is pretty much impossible. In verse 6, the psalmist confesses that all the knowledge of God is just too much to take in...but rather than hiding He breaks into praise, because God is everywhere, and knows every intimate detail about his being: "How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you" (Psalm 139:17-18, ESV).

We can't put God in a box. He's so vastly complex and boundless. If He were a god that I could make sense of, and narrow down to specific rules and boundaries, that wouldn't be a god worth giving my life over to. The mystery of God amplifies the majesty of God.

We, being made in the image of God, are also complex creatures. Another definition of manifold is "occurring or done many times at short intervals; taking place over several steps." Much like an artist's process, we are a work in progress, as is our understanding of who God is. In Christ, we are continually being molded and shaped into who we're meant to be, little by little. Likewise, we get to know our Creator layer by layer. Every time I open up the scriptures, no matter how long it's been or how many times I've read a certain passage, God always reveals to me something new.

This is so freeing to me because I know that today is just a step in the process of the work He is doing in my life. My identity and worth are not contained to a single day or a single season (or a single item on my resume). This is just one layer, with so much more to be discovered. I don't need to have all the answers today, because He has all the answers. I don't need to have the future figured out because He holds the future. The gifts He gives me today are enough for today, and in Christ, I can expect immeasurably more.

For God's glory,

Kayla

Artist Highlight: Tatiana Cardona

Tatiana Cardona is a local artist and - incidentally - my sister-in-law. Growing up in a family of artists, painting and drawing have always been in her blood. It's what came most naturally for her, a God-given talent aligning with her passion, and has become a creative outlet and skill that she has refined over time. She is a lover of art supplies and intentionally explores a wide variety of mediums, including paint, drawing, digital art, and calligraphy. She especially loves playing with color, which she views as a gift from God, bringing an abundance of depth and variety to the world.

In the chaos of the coronavirus pandemic, Tatiana has found more time to invest in her creative space at home and to practice more calligraphy. In a time when anxiety can sometimes tamper creativity, she finds that turning to God and using His gifts for His glory has given her the freedom to keep creating in this season. In her words, "God's mercies are new every day, and there's no limit to what He can give. Any new idea I have is that day's gift. Tomorrow it might be something completely different."

Her favorite piece to work on was a writable mural for Granada Day School in Coral Gables (pictured below). Inspired by what she'd want for her own children, this piece was especially fun because it took her work outdoors, and incorporated a multitude of skills and techniques. Starting with her own digital design that she then projected onto the wall, paint, wood elements, and hand-lettering came together to create a piece that's welcoming, playful, and functional.

In addition to her love for art, Tatiana serves Granada Church as Communications Manager and young adult women's bible study leader. Her role at church has afforded her many opportunities to create art and graphics for events, social media, message series, t-shirts, stickers, and more.

Follow her on Instagram!: @tatithecreative