Uncork the Color

What Do Purple Iris Symbolize Anyway??

I’ve spent a few days searching for the answer to that question so that I could come up with a focus or message to communicate with my next “Enduring Roots” colored pencil drawing.  It turns out that purple iris are often associated with royalty.  So, I began to think about the royalty of Christ – the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, but nothing really resonated with me there or spoke to my heart.

So, I kept digging and discovered that purple iris are also associated with wisdom.  This led me to search for Scripture about wisdom, and I came across two verses that really grabbed my heart.  The first is from Isaiah 28:29 “All this also comes from the Lord Almighty, whose plan is wonderful, whose wisdom is magnificent.”  The second comes from Romans 11:33, “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!”

As I read those Scriptures, the working title and meaning of this new drawing became very clear – “God’s Magnificent Wisdom”.  It occurred to me that through the journey or maze of life, I often don’t understand why certain events or experiences happen, why I’m given a particular job or task to do, or why life goes in one direction instead of another.  Looking back, though, it sometimes becomes clear how a previous event, experience, etc. has prepared me for what’s currently happening in my life.  God, in His magnificent wisdom, knew what I would need and orchestrated my life in a way that would prepare me for what was to come, often while I whined, complained, and questioned.

What a good and much needed reminder for me to trust God’s magnificent wisdom and His wonderful plan even when I don’t understand.  One day it will become clear.  Can you look back and find moments like these in your life?

As I work on designing a Celtic cross background for these beautiful purple iris, I think I’ll try to incorporate some maze patterns.  I think they’ll be a good reminder that even though life can be confusing, just like a maze, God knows the way and the paths we need to take to fulfill His purpose for us and for our lives – to prepare us for what lies ahead.  … A good reminder for me to trust a little more, and complain a little less.