Friday, April 25, 2014

Lessons from a Wild Carrot / Robin Livingston


Symbolism is a powerful thing. During a recent women’s retreat I was attending we were invited to participate in a walk along some beautiful nature trails. Our goal was a spot in the woods where several sculptures depicting Jesus’ death on the cross were set up for those pilgrims wishing to pray and meditate.


It was suggested that during our walk we try to find something in nature to represent whatever it was that we would like to leave at the foot of that cross. I had done a similar exercise once before where we carried a stone representing our burdens and set it down at the foot of a cross before walking away. I’d found it to be a profoundly moving experience so I was eager to participate.

 

I had no idea what I was looking for, but what caught my eye was a cluster of seeds from a plant called Queen Anne’s Lace or more commonly, Wild Carrot. These were last year’s plants, and the stems of what was once a spray of delicate white flowers were all curved upward like the bars of a miniature birdcage enclosing the seeds within.

 It was perfect. Earlier that morning, I’d been wrestling with some pretty negative emotions. Anger and self pity are a snare that can cripple you even when you are convinced they are justified.  I knew that I had to lay them down or they would become the bars of a cage, trapping all my potential inside where there would be no opportunity for the seeds in me to produce the fruit that God intended.

 I thought about that as I walked along the trail with the brittle little cage of seeds nestled in my palm. When I set it down at the foot of the cross I felt lighter somehow…at peace and free. I’ll never look at Wild Carrot again without remembering.

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Time Out



This weekend has been set aside for a special purpose and I’ve been looking forward to it all winter. Every year, for the past several years, the women in our church have been going on a weekend retreat where we can set aside all our cares and responsibilities and spend time with each other and with God. We’ll be heading to the beautiful Mount Alverno retreat centre in Caledon on Friday.


It’s spring…a time when the whole world, or at least the part of the world that has seasons, gets refreshed and renewed. I find that I need refreshing and renewing just as much as the world around me does. There is no better place than in the beauty of His creation among friends that I love.

 


Softly…softly…like eiderdown floating

Jesus, Lover of my soul,

The touch of your hand soothes all the jagged edges of my spirit,

The places where my “fur” has been rubbed the wrong way,

The dots that refuse to connect,

The derailment of all my intentions,

Scrambling my thoughts and stealing my peace.

 

What a day!

Let me sit at your feet,

Rest my head on your knee

And just be.

 

I will drink from your cup and be satisfied

And when I am at peace I will see

What I missed in the midst of the storm…

 

You were there.