How a plum tree inspired me to see…God is with us
Dear God,
Your story is just so humbling. You are all powerful and your timing is always right on time. My story is similar to Adam & Eve. I started out as a child with peace, purpose and joy just as you intended and it was really beautiful. But then I got tripped up into the world of trying to do things on my own.
The ways and hurt in the world blinded me from your light…but of course you were here all along…just waiting patiently on me to come home. Over the years, at times I became careless, anxious, disobedient, selfish, judgmental, undisciplined, indulgent and insecure in the soul. I wasn’t necessarily a bad person, but I was dead to your love because I lost my connection to you.
Like the world and enemy tries to tell us, I thought I could solve my own pain and suffering through people, morality and endless pleasing. The more I tried to do it own my own…the further it exasperated my suffering. I always talked to you but never full understood you. For that I am sorry.
You have been so patient with me…sitting and waiting with love in your heart giving me so much free will to try it…my way. You have been the greatest Father one could ever imagine. You never gave up on me.
As you surrounded me more and more, especially in low moments I finally got to know the 100% human form of you…Jesus. His never ending love, wisdom, grace, mercy, selflessness, gentleness and compassion touched my heart. Studying His life opened up my soul…that you had actually been here all along…I just couldn’t see it.
It was like the other night when I walked home from the Church ministry center…3 of us stumbled on part of a sidewalk with broken fruit on the ground. Before you, I would have just been perturbed by the mess on the ground that made me tiptoe around because I was likely in a hurry in life’s endless pursuit of more. But instead, you spoke through a young lady who told us what we saw in front of us was fruit from a real live plum tree above. And as a bonus…that it was safe to eat!
So I got to climb this tree like that young boy again, I knocked down plums with sticks for my new friends…and we laughed at the excitement and surprise in our new found treasure. All in the middle of Washington, D.C. about 50 yards from a metro station. It was in that moment that I felt a deep sense of peace, purpose and joy. It felt like time stood still and your presence was like a cocoon to my soul. It was a moment…
to remember
Emmanuel, Emmanuel, Emmanuel…God is with us.
You are always with us and it is only living your way and for You that we can restore the world to the beauty of your original intention. That we can be your partners…bringing harmony, love and reconciliation to human relationships. What a gift…to have you in our souls always bearing fruit even when we don’t see it.
Because you see everything and you see us with an overwhelming love that is hard to imagine. But I now know what your love feels like. It feels exactly what I felt as my feet scaled up the trunk of plum tree with the wonder and excitement of a young boy even now that I am 43 yrs old.
The love I feel now knowing you extended and sacrificed your only son to turn my previous hardened heart, cloudy eyes, brokenness, suffering into a budding, growing and restoring love that exudes from my heart…where i feel like each new day is a collection of beautiful moments like climbing a tree.
So God, I want you to know…you have my whole heart. I am home now God. I am home. I rest into your spirit and am alive in your love.
Alive enough to pass by the ground that is full of broken fruit…only to pause in your presence and now see a plum tree. Alive enough to feel the immense joy and surprise of getting to pick this fresh fruit that came from your creation. Alive enough to feel purpose as we helped each other gather and share the fruit of this little harvest. And alive enough to feel the peace at taking just enough plums so there were still plenty left and other people could find and feel what we felt.
Being in the vine and tree of your love is oh so great. It is the beauty of what you first intended. So I plan to spend a life nourishing the soil of our souls. It is only when I am in touch with mine and the presence you fill me with that I can serve you fully and share the good news.
The good news that we can use your words and guidance to turn broken fruit into beautiful, blossoming plum trees. The good news that these trees will bear endless fruit in your name. And maybe most importantly, the good news that I will sing, say and share for all of my human and eternal life…
that
Emmanuel, Emmanuel, Emmanuel…God is with us.
Your apprentice,
-Jon
check out the plums on top right part of tree!
the tree i got to climb!
so good!!!
