Words from the Past
Every now and then, I like to share something I have learned from someone who is no longer with us. Men such as A.W. Tozer, Andrew Murray, D.L. Moody and others, left behind a treasure chest filled with nuggets of wisdom that God gave to them. Whether it be through their preaching, writing or through others who watched them walk with God, we have access to these nuggets.
I became a Christian at the age of twelve. Within a few years of that I began writing. I dabbled with stories and poems, but what I wrote most consistently were journals. I have been keeping my thoughts and my prayers in those little lined books for many years. Every now and then, I look back through the pages and it surprises me, how much God has used my writing to teach me about Him and about my place in His world.
I came across this piece I wrote on September 21, 2012. Since it references fall, I thought it appropriate to publish here for you to read. I was going through a very difficult time in my life at that point and was getting counsel from a godly counselor. We talked about my vision of what I thought life would look like at this point and how in reality things didn't line up. He gently told me that in order to move on, I needed to put that vision to death.
Pixabay
At the same time, I was also reading Ann VosKamp's work, One Thousand Gifts, in which she refers to those situations in life that we never wanted or expected as ugly-beautiful. It is amazing how God can bring all these scattered pieces together and give us an acutely clear perspective.
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At times loss can be beautiful - ugly-beautiful.
This season, fall, trees begin a transformation of loss. Their leaves, once green and supple, change in color and become dry, even crispy.
Gradually, they let go, both the tree and the leaf.
The tree, in its God given wisdom knows that it will bloom again; its stark branches will feel the excitement of new growth.
Does the leaf know its life is over?
Does it accept the loss of the tree and the giddiness of the wind to send it wherever it desires?
Does it breath a sigh of relief when its final resting place slowly swallows it down and it is remembered no more?
There are aspects of my life, I need to let go of. I need to quit clinging and let those leaves fall silently to the ground.
That is the only way for new life to begin.
(Written by Amy D. Christensen - 9/21, 2012)
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Even though I am at a different point in my life than I was when I wrote that, I believe it still holds true. Don't we all have leaves in our life that we are clinging to, challenging the wind to tear them from us? Yet, each season has a purpose and we need to know when that season has passed and we must let God create newness in our lives. I know it is hard, but God knows what is best and how very much He cares for you.
“The Lord appeared to him from afar, saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.”
“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus”