Life emerges, struggling up through the cracks in your Pathway toward the sunlight and nourishment into a new life. You stand at the ready with your pruning tool ready to get rid of this overgrowing body of plants. Then, the light catches your eye and you perceive something special about it…lying within its shape. You pause.
As you bend down onto your knees deciding about what to do, you close your eyes and open your heart to try to “see” what is in front of you. You have seen ants that crawl over this shape, seemingly disrespecting its struggle. The mailman tramples it as he moves from house to house. Can’t they see it is trying to grow? This shape has no meaning to them. But perhaps there is more to it …on the inside counts so much more.
I feel Sunlight warm on my face and down my body as the Light reach out on its journey to caress the horizontal arms of this trampled weed cross which resolutely reached the small, lonely bright yellow dandelions struggle on each side. They barely had any life left, but they hung on for dear life reaching for nourishment … struggling so hard, yet hopeful that there would be a way for the water to find them. The nearby Gardener lovingly cares for what He understands lies deep down inside.
Life-giving, cold water seeps into my senses and opens my eyes to see. The overflowing water ripples and shimmers on driveway nourishing the outside and the roots deep within. As we face storms of life in your boat, waves washing high up by us, do we reach out and grasp Jesus’ hand? Help me, strengthen me, nourish me. . Do you respond with Hope? To reach for Help invisible, yet visible to in faith. When you or your neighbors face catastrophes, or just need a helping hand do you respond with Hope…we will get through this…together…joining heartbeats?
Are you attune to the heartbeats of your neighbors and world? Do you look to the Hope that will get you through? As storms hit southern Iowa, many have been affected. How do you see life…as devastation or a challenge you can face together. With surrounding chaos, new bills to pay, yes, hurts digging into hearts so deeply, can you see the One walking down the trampled lives on the streets, whose Light is bringing order to your lives…working together. Do you see how beautiful life is…when the cool water just seeps in and you are become slowly, more clearly aware.
From where I am on my knees, this plain, trampled weed cross is a reminder to me. I touch its growing leaves and give it some water. There is hope. Reach out to help together. All is well and all will be well.
© 2020 Bonnie L Smith-Davis
Awakening Light 