Once, on a lovely open plain, there was an ash tree and another tree. They started out next to each other, but as they grew their branches and leaves reached to each other and intertwined. The rains trickled down to the trunks and then to their roots, which were also entwined. The trees would bend in the northwest winds, the branches of each holding the other up. Together they held and protected birds and other creatures that nested in and around them. To look at them you wouldn’t know where one tree ended and the other began.
One day a lumberjack came. He noticed the ash tree would be good for carving, but the other would not. It took him quite a while to decide how best to cut the ash tree and still leave the other, but he finally succeeded. Along with the trunk he took as many of the ash’s branches as he could, but cut off the entwined ones, leaving them for the other tree to drop and the wind to take away. The other tree grieved the loss of her friend. Where the ash had once stood, protecting and holding her, she was now exposed and weak. She closed her own branches tightly around the ash’s branches. In defiance of the winds and rains she held on to what was left of her friend, but eventually the ash’s branches grew brittle, and their rattling in the wind only served to remind her of her loss. Finally, one by one, her tears mixing with wind and rain, she let the ash’s dead branches fall. But though she couldn’t see it, a wonderful thing was happening. As she let go of the dead branches, her own branches were growing stronger in the wind and rain. Her weaker side was filling out. She had been so focused on the ash’s branches, thinking they would keep her strong. What she didn’t realize is there was still life for her from the ash’s roots. Air and nutrients flowed into her own roots, allowing them to flourish. By letting the dead branches go, she was able to grow in new directions, nourished by the memories of her friend. Loss is inevitable and painful but the joy of the having is worth it, along with the memory it leaves behind. #bethelove #growththroughgrief ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you for reading, sharing, and commenting. If you’d like to receive these posts and updates in your inbox, please subscribe.
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Emma & Ellie were nestled in the coffee house booth when Emma’s friend, Kat, walked in. “Hey, what are you up to?” Emma asked. “Just grabbing a latte after the protest,” Kat replied. Ellie furrowed her eyebrows a bit and said, “The political protest on the square?” “Yep,” Kat answered. “We’ve got to care for and support this part of society.” “Helping people is the way to go,” Emma said, then noticed something on Kat’s arm. “New tat?” Kat smiled and showed off the skull with a knife through the eye socket on her lower arm. “It is! What do you think? I like it but my parents say it’s a little gruesome.” Ellie raised one eyebrow, silently agreeing with Kat’s parents. Emma chuckled and shook her head. “It’s definitely you, and you know I love you.” Kat chuckled and leaned over to Ellie. “I’m trying to talk her into getting one, something harmless like a bunny.” She winked at Emma and checked the time on her phone. “Okay, gotta run. I’ll see you next week. Love you, too, and it was good to meet you, Ellie.” “Same here,” Ellie replied, trying to not sound sarcastic. Kat walked to the counter to order. Ellie leaned forward in the booth. “Who was that?” “She’s my old roommate’s sister,” Emma replied. “We always got along better than the roommate and I did. She’s fun and interesting.” Ellie shook her head. “But you guys are complete opposites from each other in politics, lifestyle, and religion.” “Yeah, but those are details.” Ellie sat back in her seat. “Pretty big details. Do you just avoid talking about those subjects?” “No, we talk about them, but Kat isn’t just her politics or spiritual views. She is my friend and I love her for ALL the things she is. To focus on the one or two I’m not as comfortable with denies me the privilege of knowing her as a whole person.” Ellie’s eyes widened. “Doesn’t it infuriate you when she gets heated up about her politics?” “I don’t focus on how her politics differ from mine. If I did, I probably would get mad, but it wouldn’t be worth it to lose an awesome friend. We go deeper than the details. Yes, she is passionate about her politics, but that’s head stuff. I focus on her heart, no matter what direction her passion takes.” “What do you have in common if not the details?" “We didn’t think we had much in common at first, but the more we got to know each other, the more we realized we share hopes, dreams, fears, wounds. It turns out we have a lot more in common than not. That is what bonds us.” Ellie pondered this. “I guess, with you and me, we share many of the same details but also quite a few of the deeper things as well.” Emma smiled. “Absolutely. And I love you both.” #bethelove #deeperthanthedetails --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you for reading, sharing, and commenting. If you’d like to receive these posts and updates in your inbox, please subscribe. He could feel them following him.
He stopped walking and bent over to tie his sandal. Out of the corner of his eye he saw them pause, whistling and looking around at the sky. He chuckled softly to himself. They’d never be good private investigators. He walked on, stopping to take in the view, check the position of the sun, clearly enjoying playing with them. Finally he decided to put them out of their misery. He turned directly to face them. Cocking his head to the side and smiling, he asked, “What do you want?” The two were gobsmacked. One’s face grew red and the other stammered a bit before spitting out, “Teacher, where are you staying?” The red-faced one smacked his companion’s arm. “Where are you staying? Seriously? THAT’S what you open with?” “Well, YOU weren’t saying anything. You left me there to…” “Fellas,” the teacher interrupted, laughing. “Come and see.” Honestly, if I were following someone and they caught me, I can’t say I’d have come up with any better response than they did. When I’m in awe of or intimidated by someone and get to speak to them face to face, I can barely remember my own name. And it’s really nice when that someone is gracious and kind to me, as Jesus was with these two. Even if they are the most gracious and most kind of all someones, I can’t imagine they would EVER up and invite me to come along. Can you think of anything more unwise, or unsafe, than telling someone you don’t know AT ALL, who is really kind of stalking you, who could potentially be a crazed axe-wielding groupie, to COME WITH YOU AND SEE WHERE YOU ARE STAYING? Wiser and safer responses could include, “Nope, that’s top secret info,” and “I’ll have my people email your people.” Another option would be to give them an address, part ways, then follow them for a while to see if one of them had an axe in his robe. But Jesus? He invited them to come with him directly to where he was staying. Jesus is fearless. He laughs in the face of danger. He is love in action. He knows that if he is going to be God With Us, then arm’s length isn’t going to cut it. He’s about people. He’s about connection. He’s about turning hearts back to the Father. He came to gather up everyone he can, lead them to his Dad, and rejoice as they are adopted as his brothers and sisters. “Come and see,” he says. And the guys do. They spend the rest of the day with him. One of those two was Andrew. Do you know what Andrew did first thing after leaving Jesus? He went and found his brother, Simon Peter, and brought him to God With Us. Except this time, instead of hanging back, Andrew ran back. I’ll bet Peter’s arm was sore from being dragged. Meeting Jesus can make you want to run back, too. Not sure? Come and see. #bethelove #heisnotwhatyouthink #loveinaction #stalkersurprise ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you for reading, sharing, and commenting. If you’d like to receive these posts and updates in your inbox, please subscribe. For reasons I cannot and will not go into, it’s been a REALLY crappy couple of weeks.
My heart aches on many levels, for many reasons, and many people (If you think you know why, believe me, you don't, and that's okay). This horrendous weather is NOT helping AT ALL. I’ve been trying to write a blog post that sounded perfect in my head this morning BC (Before Coffee) but 7 hours and 1764 words later Just. Is. Not. Coming. Together. And I can’t fight anymore. My heart needs some TLC, and I have no idea where or how to get it. Please DON’T ask me about it, or even give me that little “oh, poor dear” puppy dog face. Please DO say a prayer for the ladies I’m speaking to this Sunday night, that they may receive Grace, and have some for me, for whatever ends up coming out of my mouth. Please do pray for my poor family who puts up with me, and send up a little prayer for me. as well Please do give me a long hug if you see me. And please come back next week when, with a little Grace and a lot of help, I’ll have something worth sharing with you. Thank you for being here. Love, Debbie |
Applying nature's principles and systems to personal and cultural development.About CommentsI love to read comments and know how my work is helping you. Please respond with your first AND last names. Anonymous comments will not be read and may be deleted.
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