A crowd begins to jeer
Who is this woman?
Her fears rise until she wants to run
Opposition gets louder
Voluminous voices try to drown resolve
Her message is a statement
Listening, she asks for wisdom
She lays herself down
Nothing more to be done
Love is sought
Humility her answer
Great are the battles within each and every one of us. I stood witness to a reflection of myself today. My own weakness I heard shared in the words spoken. With understanding, I listened to a heart desperately needing to remember what hope and love looked like. I was impressed by the courage I saw. To lay down our own plans, our ideas, to lay down our pride.
Here I wait for the arising. From the ashes of what we ourselves tried to build come hope and promise as they are meant to be. Refined and perfected in the fires of trials and tribulations. Greater than our limited expectations, our awakened dreams are being fulfilled.
In my youth I would drive the streets of Japan not able to read Kanji language. I simply learned direction with practice. I find amusement in how those experiences are still teaching me to steer by instinct and not what I can visually read or understand. In those years I had to have courage to explore and willingness to get lost now and again.
Joshua 1:9b “Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
I discover my position of lowliness once more and feel my heart emerging into the hope of truth. I find my place in the Son along with those who also hear this call. A burning sensation is working throughout me, cleansing my impurities. I wonder at the color of my flame in this moment. I am unrestrained; however my discomfort desires me to move elsewhere. I must stay still. I await the fourth man who is to come.
Dan 3:25 “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”
A sense of humor is a precious commodity in serious times. It can be arms of comfort or weapons of warfare. I pay attention to humor in myself and in others. The way one uses humor can be quite telling. The weaponry aspect shows when I see deflection; that would be the shield. To see words thrown carelessly, that would be the barb. Seeing words maliciously delivered is to know there is a need to eviscerate another; that would be a sword of the wrong making.
The arms of comfort wrap themselves around another with joy and acceptance; being quick to laugh with another, but not at them. Putting someone at ease in a moment of discomfort can bring them rescue and relief. Speaking an appropriate word sometimes is as effortless as releasing laughter in the right moment. Genuine laughter sounds like an orchestra of love sung just for you.
Pro 26:18-19 (MSG) People who shrug off deliberate deceptions, saying, “I didn’t mean it, I was only joking,” Are worse than careless campers who walk away from smoldering campfires.
Pro 15:23 (GNB) What a joy it is to find just the right word for the right occasion!
Two turtledoves sat outside my kitchen window. I looked on them with a love burning in my heart knowing what they represented. They would not leave each other. They were dedicated. They were singularly focused. They flew freely. They chose to fly together always.
He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; He who keeps understanding will find good. Pro 19:8
My greed knows no boundaries and the hunger in me cannot be quenched. I tilt my ears to listen intently to what is spoken of truth. In my dullness, I come alongside those who can sharpen me. With their grit and determination I begin to shine.
Although slow in my understanding, I hold on with vice grips for hands; I clutch tightly to what I should never let go of. My pride hollers at me, and my insecurities scream aloud. These are useless voices to my sense of self. I am set upon the greed of needing wisdom and understanding.
Music and inspiration were created by God. When we listen with His heart, we are given hope. Wisdom calls to us if we are listening…what if you could listen to a song with new ears? What if “she” was wisdom calling you…imagine?
Pro 2:2 (MSG) Tune your ears to the world of Wisdom; set your heart on a life of Understanding.
She’s got a way about her
I don’t know what it is
But I know that I can’t live without her
She’s got a way of pleasin’
I don’t know why it is
But there doesn’t have to be a reason anyway
She’s got a smile that heals me
I don’t know what it is
But I have to laugh when she reveals me
She’s got a way of talkin’
I don’t know why it is
But it lifts me up when we are walkin’ anywhere
She comes to me when I’m feelin’ down
Inspires me without a sound
She touches me and I get turned around
She’s got a way of showin’ me
How I make her feel
And I find the strength to keep on goin’
She’s got a light around her
And ev’rywhere she goes a million
Dreams of love surround her ev’rewhere
She comes to me when I’m feelin’ down
Inspires me without a sound
She touches me, I get turned around oh oh oh
She’s got a smile that heals me
I don’t know why it is
But I have to laugh when she reveals me
She’s got a way about her
I don’t know what it is
But I know that I can’t live without her any way *
The crane stood still and majestic along the roadside. It didn’t make sense that such loud passing trucks and vehicles didn’t seem to bother it. It was pure white. I marveled at its confidence as I passed it by. In time I saw yet another crane which was almost a mirror image again close to the freeway noise. I could only wonder why it would choose this place to stand. Within miles I saw a third white crane in the same position. I shook my head wondering about these cranes, wondering why I would notice them, wondering at their confidence in such a crazy environment. Shortly I saw the last crane I’d see on this trip. Its wings lifted it gracefully to take flight…
I could hear a song in my heart, “I believe it’s time for me to fly”…..
When they look at me I can see their expectation. They want to find confidence in their own ideas of who they believe me to be. Turning away as best I know how, I begin to genuinely panic. At this point I feel like one of those Navy guys standing on a flight deck with a couple of neon signal indicators trying to wave a plane into the right position before take-off!
My spirit is politely screaming, “I’m not the man, Jesus is The Man, Jesus is The God”. It’s time to unzip my outer suit and expose the inner man. The one who is so weak I cry desperation. When they see how miniscule I really am, their eyes refocus on their own upward calling and these precious ones take flight.
