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.
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