 Photo credit: Pixabay A carpenter built a grand and glorious house. Every element, from concrete and shingles, fixture and faucet, tongue and groove, was specifically chosen and masterfully worked.
He invited people to live in it with him. Some welcomed the carpenter and enjoyed their lives together while others completely ignored his existence. In some ways, the people took care of the house. In many other ways they did not, nor did they take care of each other. Trouble continued to escalate until, finally, someone took a match to one of the curtains. It smoldered at first, but quickly the fire spread until the couch, rug, the whole room was engulfed in flames. The fire began to march through the house, room by room. The people avoided the burning rooms but still remained inside the house. They felt protected in the other rooms, convinced the fire would never reach them. Until it did. Some believed there was nothing beyond the house and awaited their fate. Others argued that there had to be more than one way out. How could a loving carpenter design only one way out of the house? Amidst the molten metal and cracking beams the carpenter shouted, “I built this house with my own hands. I know every nail, screw, and sanded place. I designed it so we could live together. I am here in the house with you. I always have been. But now it’s burning down and you will only get out if you come with me. I am the way. All you have to do is acknowledge you need me and ask me to help you. I don’t want anyone lost in the flames, but I can’t lead those who won’t follow.” ---------- Did you catch it, my favorite word? It’s WITH. As in, accompanied by. The carpenter has a name – Emmanuel, which means God WITH Us. Always together. Never alone. Not God Far Off and Directing. Not God Standing Over and Barking Orders. But God In the Midst of Hell WITH YOU. God Who Will Never Abandon You. God As Close As You Will Let Him Be. God wants to be WITH us. It’s what The Father planned in the Garden of Eden. It’s what the New Heaven and New Earth are all about. It’s Jesus, God with skin, God with us, the perfect example, The Way. It’s the Holy Spirit INSIDE us. You can’t get any more WITH than that. Those who want more than one way out are missing the point. It’s not about how to get out of the house, it’s about how to get with the carpenter. Why? Because he loves you. He loves us all. #heisnotwhatyouthink #thepowerofwith #bethelove ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you for reading, sharing, and commenting. If you’d like to receive these posts and updates in your inbox, please head to the Contact Page to subscribe.
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 Photo credit: Pexels He gently set the last eyelash in place, then declared the beautiful doll complete.
“Awake, my daughter,” he whispered, and he breathed on her. Her chest rose as she inhaled sharply. She exhaled slowly, her eyes opened and focused on her creator and she smiled. “Hello,” he said. “Welcome to your life.” Every ounce of her was tinged with joy when they were together. They were so in tune they could even think each other’s thoughts. She would ask and he would answer. He would guide, she would follow. She explored, he showed her newness every day. She kept choosing to stay with him. But she slowly began to lose interest and wandered away. She looked over her shoulder and could still see him, but distantly. She could still hear his muffled thoughts or could she? Perhaps they were her own. He shouted for her to come back, but she kept walking further and further away. She fell on the path and skinned her knee, and where he used to swoop her right up and heal her, he couldn’t reach her anymore. She had left him one tiny step at a time. Then one day she realized she was all alone. The loneliness had come on so insidiously she hadn’t perceived it. She hadn’t intended to turn her back on him, to run away. Could she go back? Surely he didn’t want her anymore or he would be here. But she couldn’t find him. All she had to do was ask, and he would be closer. For each step she could make back to him, he was able to get much closer. By this point she couldn’t remember if she had known him at all, or if she had simply heard others talk about him. But she knew one thing for sure. She didn’t want to be alone any longer. She looked at her smudged and torn dress and scuffed shoes. She tried to run her fingers through the knots in her hair. She made her hands into fists, knitted her brow, and took the tiniest of steps back toward him. He met her right there. Over time, the more steps she took to him, the more she remembered. And the more she learned of him, the more she experienced for herself. And she heard his voice and thoughts again, just like before. It was never perfect, but then again, it was never meant to be. But it could be as good as she made it. #bethelove #thepowerofwith ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you for reading, sharing, and commenting. If you’d like to receive these posts and updates in your inbox, please head to the Contact Page to subscribe. |
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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