The Origami Rose

I am not a crafty person, though I am surrounded by them. I am amazed by the artistic vision Tiffany and Ethan both have. Tiffany is great with decorating and bringing a vision for a room to life. Ethan is great with drawing, but that is not his specialty. Ethan is one of the best paper folders I have ever seen. The type of art he excels in known as origami.

Origami – from ori meaning “folding,” and kami meaning “paper,” (kami changes to gami due to a grammatical nuance in Japanese) – is the traditional Japanese art of paper folding, which started in the 17th century AD at the latest and was popularized outside of Japan in the mid-1900s. It has since then evolved into a modern art form. The goal of this art is to transform a flat sheet of paper into a finished sculpture through folding and sculpting techniques.

Ethan & His Giant Origami Rose

Ethan began learning origami using simple YouTube videos to show him how to make the necessary folds to
bring his creations to life. He started with simple ones like cranes, but has gotten really skilled at making things like boxes, rings, and his favorite, the rose. Children in his school have been so impressed with the roses that he is asked constantly to make them for his friends. He does this joyfully, knowing that this skill he has learned helps brighten someone’s day.

This past weekend, while it was so rainy, Ethan decided he wanted to tackle an origami project that would be a challenge…he wanted to make the biggest rose possible! He tried wrapping paper and newspaper, but he couldn’t get it quite right. It wasn’t until finding a roll of craft paper that he was able to find paper with the correct weight to fold and crease in order to hold up under the pressure. I watched his little hands manipulate that paper, struggling with it at times, but the joy in his eyes when he brought this rose to life was inspiring!

Ethan’s work with the giant origami rose got me thinking about how GOD’s hands mold and shape us. There are times we might feel formless, but even then, GOD is working to mold us into the image in which we were created – His! There are times when this is easy and there are times when it seems like a struggle. Regardless, it is worth it! It is then we come to realize this that we can confidently proclaim the message of Psalm 119:73: “Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding to learn your commands.”

Realizing we have been formed by the very hand of GOD, like the Psalms say, help us to learn the commands of GOD, that we love the Lord with all that we have and love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Finding a new life of love emerge from within us transforms our barren existence into something as lovely as a rose. Consider this verse from Isaiah 35.1: “The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.”

As you come to understand how GOD has formed you and wants you to love, it will change and transform your life. May you live this transformed life like a beautiful and sweet-scented rose. Allow GOD to help blossom and unfold you so you can be the rose given by the Lord to brighten someone’s day!