Several varieties of trees surround the tiny half-duplex I rent. Some evergreens, some deciduous-the kind that shed their leaves. One type of evergreen stands guard in front of the house right next to the cement steps. To the side of the house stand three deciduous trees that have been throwing leaves to the ground for weeks now. So, I had a conversation with a tree today at the corner where I wait for the bus that takes me to the Women and Family Shelter where I volunteer.’
I asked the tree if it hurt when the leaves fall. It told me, “Heck, no! In fact, I feel all that much lighter. Those ol’ leaves are ready to bite the dust. They know it’s their time and understand the life and death cycle and the seasons and their purpose.”
It also commented how it couldn’t understand how evergreens were green all the time and looked like they just kept producing, and producing and producing without getting a rest at which time a great tall, majestic evergreen across the street chimed in.
“Well, I’ll tell you. All you had to do was ask instead of talking about me as if I’m not even here. Hhmmph. We simply send our roots deep, deep, deep down into the ground and keep drinking in the water that’s there in the soil, and we keep our eyes on the Son—that’s how. Quite simple, if you ask me, but then ya didn’t bother.”
By then the bus came and I got on thinking about the conversation I had with the trees and about
Yesterday,I joined the rain drops diving from the sky onto my rooftop and sliding down its slanted slope to dive again to the ground. I can still hear their laughter and singing and rejoicing and see them dancing with joy in knowing their purpose.
You see, it’s like this.
From April 2006 to the present, I have been seeking to know our God with ALL of my heart, not holding back anything. It has not been an easy time, but God called me to “come aside” and seek to KNOW Him. As I think of it, it has been something like the trees shaking off the dead leaves that simply would drain the life out of them. I never, ever, ever imagined that God would hand me the key to unlock the imagination room in my brain and I’d find so much treasure. But God does promise:
De 4:29 But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.
Joe 2:25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.
1Co 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
Isa 64:4 For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.
Now if you’ve had access to your imagination room since forever, you may not think it’s such a big deal, but for me it’s absolutely unspeakable..
