Today’s post is a short story by me, hope you enjoy.
A long time ago, an artist created a beautiful masterpiece. Its glory beyond compare, its shimmer was blinding. It was Creator’s most precious passion, the crown of his craft. It was also much desired by his rival.
Rival loved art too, but he loved it differently. He relished the idea of taking things of beauty and turning them into a twisted reflection of their true nature. He thought that by doing this he would be rich beyond all measure yet his wealth would be masked and thus safe from thieves.
His art always started by taking from artists who created beautiful things and then hiding their luster behind smudges of ash and dirt, sometimes even paint and blood.
When Rival saw Creator’s masterpiece, his most precious creation, he knew he had to have it. So he plotted and planned his theft.
Through incredible persistence, he was able to talk Creator’s housekeeper into giving him what he wanted. He walked away with gleeful smirk and a wrapped canvas. He was good with his tongue.
Once in his workshop, Rival set to work on his task. It was much harder than he expected. The shimmer was blinding even when covered with all manner of different things. He finally had to pull out all the stops to make it his own.
When Creator discovered his loss, he was devastated. Words cannot even describe the anguish. He wept for days as he searched high and low. Then he found it in Rival’s shop window. It was hardly recognizable – but his touch was unmistakable. What was once his prized possession, the crown jewel of beauty and majesty, was nothing more than ash and blood. But Creator could see behind the soot to the twinkle of his custom pigment.
Creator’s soul was ripped out by the twisted interpretation of his creation. But his power didn’t leave him. He demanded the return of his painting. Rival refused to acknowledge that it belong to Creator – claimed it was his own idea. Creator knew full well that Rival had never had any of his own ideas but the argument was futile.
So Creator offered to buy it.
Seeing this love, this desperate love, Rival knew he could turn the situation to his benefit. So he asked for a price incredibly high, much higher than he estimated the original paintings value to be.
Creator would do anything to retrieve his art. He gave up something that was much more valuable, his son. Creator’s son was one of the most sought after artisans in the land. Artists would do anything to have him apprentice in his workshop. But he set about his father’s work only.
Rival was surprised by this and it made him wonder at what he had just sold back. But the bargain was stuck. Creator paid dearly and gently returned his masterpiece to his studio. Finally, it was home again safe and sound.
But that was only the beginning. It was home, but it was twisted and tarnished beyond recognition.
Creator began arduously and slowly to restore the painting. The chemicals burned the paint as well as Creator. Rival had done his job well. It took years to undo the damage, but finally Creator finished.
He hung it up in his gallery once again. It shone in its radiance. And the first person to see it again was the one whom Creator had given up to restore it. His only son. His son who had gone through hell and back for that painting. His son who did battle and eventually destroyed Rival from the inside out and restored all the lost art to their rightful owners.
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Happy Easter! Let us all be open to shimmer in the beauty God created us to be.
The photo here is called, Open to New Life.
Posted in Featured,flowers,spring — by alicia on Friday, April 6th, 2012 — Comments (0)
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