An intentional date with Jesus~ three hours of listening, singing, observing, smelling, hearing, touching; it was walking slowly with a Friend, being in the moment, give and take. As I headed to the prayer labyrinth on this cloudless perfect day, I came across a dead, brittle lifeless tree...and stopped. Having just "sat" in John 15-17, my head was full of "the Spirit gives life...if there is no life, there is no Spirit". What a clear picture of what happens to my soul when deadness creeps in--empty, stark, ready to fall or give up, form but no substance.
My senses were heightened as I continued on the prayer path--and next discovered a half-dead pine. One half seemed to be turned to the sun, with green growth while the other side held barren branches buried in another growing tree. What are you saying to me, Lord? Is this also me sometimes? A kind of half hearted life, desiring the growth--but not always leaning into Jesus? Sitting on the fence of my blessed life, but not always living the freedom or not straining hard to hear His words more clearly...perhaps leaning into someone else's growth, or into my past years of growth?
OK, Lord--you have my attention! Anticipating, searching, sitting on the edge of my seat--and there it was: a perfect tree, full of light green buds shooting out, stretching upward, excited to be fully in bloom soon...as April was turning into May. Oh wow, can my life be like this? Is it possible to be so alive to the Holy Spirit that my "blooming" is more visible than I ever realize? My head so believes this-- that there is abundant & overflowing life, transformed by the Spirit; touch my heart, let me SEE your work, and feel your energy, your LIFE. Grow me into that green tree.
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