A "book" too good to pass up!

In writing, descriptions are the strings that carry the story from the torn and withering pages of a book to the spaces between your mental ability and imaginative star-reaching capabilities. Descriptions are what takes the items, people and places in the chapters and lifts them in to life like form for a reader.

With description, we can see, visualize, know or feel that which is being spoken of.

Take this example for example by Jeremy Burden:

"My most valuable possession is an old, slightly warped blond guitar--the first instrument I taught myself how to play. It's nothing fancy, just a Madeira folk guitar, all scuffed and scratched and finger-printed. At the top is a bramble of copper-wound strings, each one hooked through the eye of a silver tuning key. The strings are stretched down a long, slim neck, its frets tarnished, the wood worn by years of fingers pressing chords and picking notes. The body of the Madeira is shaped like an enormous yellow pear, one that was slightly damaged in shipping. The blond wood has been chipped and gouged to gray, particularly where the pick guard fell off years ago. No, it's not a beautiful instrument, but it still lets me make music, and for that I will always treasure it."

After reading that one paragraph you can probably see the guitar sitting in the corner of your own room. How many times I have read a book and seen the movie years later and visualized a completely different person in the leading role.

NOW, that all being said, imagine if Jeremy would have described his guitar by saying it was "old." It just wouldnt give you the same feeling, or picture. For one, most of us would not pay any attention after reading/hearing a line like that. "My old guitar."

Think of describing a person. What if you heard a "dark-headed girl was sitting quiet in the crowd." Imagine the hesitation in picking that book up and taking it home. I, personally would be much more likely to grab a book with the following description: "Her hair was a rich shade of mahagony. It flowed in waves to adorn her glowing, porcelain-like skin. Her eyes, framed by long lashes, were a bright, emerald-green and seemed to brighten the world. A straight nose, full lips - she seemed the picture of perfection. Had she smiled, the world would sigh with contentment. Had she laughed, the world would laugh with her. And had she wept, the whole world would want to comfort her."

To simply state one word you miss out on the essence of that person, the item or place. You need to encompass the whole.

NOW...follow me with this...

Would you agree with me to say that to describe God as loving, is much the same?

Just as the girl had dark hair and the guitar was in fact old, God is a very loving God. But to describe Him as only loving hinders people from being able to fully visualize, know or feel the God which we speak of.

When we talk to others about God, we should remember all the qualities He has shown in our walk with him. Loving. Patient. Kind. Gracious. Generous. Merciful. And the list goes on and on and ON! TO miss out on describing the incredible God we serve creates a God people can pass up. God may mean so much to me personally for reasons applicable to me individually (grace, mercy, love, encouragement and suficiency) BUT to someone else, they may open their hearts to God for reasons of kindness, joy, ect. By boxing God into the attributes we have tapped into, belittles the amazing God we serve for those around us!

Don't box God in, allow Him to be who He is...the GREAT I AM! And watch as the people around you "pick HIM up and have a read."