"I am a little pencil in the hand of God writing a love letter to the world." 

           ~ Mother Teresa

Because Mother Teresa often thought of herself as a little pencil, there are variations of this quote, including one that essentially says we are all little pencils in the hand of a Creator expressing Love through us.

Yesterday, this pencil metaphor came up while I was replying to a touchstone friend. Suddenly I pictured a fountain pen and felt a rush of joy. I remembered how much I loved using a fountain pen in the upper grades of elementary school. It could be messy. I often had ink stains on my hands. But oh how pretty the writing looked when I used peacock blue ink. So, for me, the pencil metaphor becomes stronger when I think of us as fountain pens. The ink flowing through the pen is an apt symbol for Love flowing through us and out to the world. The messiness works for me too. I mess up. We all do. But we're all so beautiful too. Inside we're brighter than peacock blue.  
Perhaps you would prefer to think of yourself as a ball point pen or a crayon or not a writing implement at all. Perhaps you'd rather be likened to a paint brush, or a carving chisel, or a drum, a harp, a horn, or a bell.
The possibilities are plentiful. If you know the instrument that works best for you, please let me know. In the meantime, let's aim, like St. Francis, to be instruments of peace, love, and understanding. 
Sincerely,

Charlene

BEAUTY: May your deeds reflect its depth. - from The Twelve Gifts of Birth