Art Gallery

abSTRACTION

Painting by Genesis Tramine
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Reflect

This reflection was inspired by the painting "Hour of Incense" by Genesis Tramaine on display at Hirshhorn Museum in DC.

In my past, I've hurt people. I've lied, manipulated, cheated, and created chaos in some places where love should've lived. But who I was then is not who I am now. My relationship with God has reshaped me from the inside out, even if that transformation will never erase the image some people carry of my former self.

I've come to see myself as an abstract piece of art. What you perceive depends on where you stand. A different angle creates a different interpretation. For some, my presence may stir peace. For others, it may awaken old fractures. I'm one canvas, with multiple meanings. One life, different experiences depending on who is observing. I've learned to accept that reality with humility.

From that place of reflection, I offer this advice:

Sometimes, the only peace you can give someone is the peace that comes from stepping out of their life. Not every story is redeemed through closeness; some are redeemed through distance. Although you're growing, and your intentions are sincere, your present strokes of goodness do not erase the darker sins painted in your past. Even God's grace, perfect and freely given, doesn't function as a brush that wipes away someone else's painful memories. Ephesians 2:8–9 ESV says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works so that no one may boast." This grace covers your sin before God, but it does not instantly reframe the images held by people who were wounded. Grace restores your standing with Him, yet it doesn't force restoration with those who still carry the imprint of the old portrait you once painted in their life. Forgiveness and acceptance aren't the same. A person may forgive you because their heart is grounded in God, as forgiveness is a choice they make. Love may inspire them to let go of the offense, but it doesn’t mean they have to let you back into their life in the same way. Forgiveness can be seen as the cleansing of a canvas, while acceptance is the decision to display that artwork again. This choice involves discernment and setting boundaries. Choosing not to accept someone back into the space where pain once lived isn't a rebellion against God; It's not a barrier to salvation. God doesn't require anyone to rehang a painting that once brought them sorrow. Salvation is anchored in Christ alone, not in returning to the person who hurt you or was hurt by you. Sometimes, the most loving and God honoring act you can offer is distance. Stepping back allows His grace to work in you and His healing to work in them. In that space, both lives can become new masterpieces in His hands.