DEEP is the word of the week. It took longer than five minutes to write, but I hope you will feel it is worth your time.
Once the easy to grasp or chomp fruits on the periphery of the jungle/patch have been consumed, we have to dig DEEP for the hidden deliciousness, risking spiders, other crawly creatures, twisty vines and pokey weeds.
Sound a bit like life?
Where is the best, longest lasting, life sustaining sweetest fruit found?
DEEP in the grayish jungle/patch of feelings, thoughts, and longings for more. Where only the Brave, risk tangled vines, fanged multi-legged creepers, and prickly weeds in search of richly ripened fruit.
There are times when it doesn't feel worth the risk of getting poked, tangled in, or bit by an unknown crawly thing to grasp what will hopefully, maybe possibly, be tasty out of the grayish bleh.
I prefer to look for fruit that is easily found, recognized by glowing light, angels singing, butterflies flitting about while a unicorn grazes nearby.
But, let's face it. The angel chorus fruit may be over-ripe and squish into our fingers leaving them stained, sticky, and attract flying stingers. It doesn't last long and it sustains nothing.
However, the hazy DEEP, pain-laden, belief-molting, theology-shredding places and seasons are worth reaching into. I've navigated enough of them that I am gaining strength in the coming out. Endurance and grace are in rich supply where the vibrant will to move forward fades to grayscale.
If you find yourself in that place or season, don't do it alone. Choose someone who will be in the DEEP with you, unafraid. They will bandage the pricks, bites, and untangle. They will breathe words of warmth in the frosty faded moments, weeks or months. They will be Spirit in flesh cautiously, tenderly, leading you out of the grayscale back to vibrancy.
You can go through the DEEP, find the freshest fruit, and flourish. It IS possible. Don't give up.
Hugs and prayers to you. I'm here if you need me.
I love this take on the prompt. It's so true- going deep is not for the faint-hearted but it is often where the best fruit is to be found and that makes it worthwhile!
ReplyDeleteAmen! It's so easy to get discouraged when the unicorns don't show up and the angels don't sing. Those deep moments are often grey and dark and not all that fun--but those are the moments when we grow. When we shed the old woman and make room for the new woman God has in mind.
ReplyDeleteUgh, I hate spiders, intensely! But you are right...if we are willing to risk rooting around where the shallow haven't gone, we'll find the good stuff. Thanks for sharing!
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