Saturday, July 16, 2011

Through the Fire

I had an experience last night that felt just like this picture. Out of focus, in the heat of battle, surrounded on all sides.

In that moment, I felt I was facing all of my own demons. They clawed at my mind, trying to unravel the peace and joy I had attained in this past year. My head was fuzzy, I felt unwell, I couldn't retain a solid thought. The mocking voice kept coming at me with all the failures, fears and mistakes I had made.

I wandered back and forth from my room to the kitchen, trying to walk off the sound of his voice. He was relentless. I prayed for release but none came for quite a while. I finally faced the demon and reminded me of whom I belong to. Suddenly, God was there, like an avenging angel, drawing me back into the warmth of his love. I knew I had faced hell and come back to renew my vow of allegiance. God had not abandoned me to the clutches of my own human heart, but brought me up again out of the darkness and into the light of dawn.

I was blessed to rise in the morning and see the sun streaming through my window onto my prayer plant. The leaves reaching towards the light, just as my soul was drawing in every breathe of the day. The night had passed and I had come through with hardly a scratch. How could that be? I was in the midst of a great battle and yet had no distinct marks to show the struggle. Inside my mind, the lapping of ocean waves soothed and quieted my spirit. I felt refreshed, as if I had swam in the storm for hours and now finally found the quiet beach of awareness. I was loved. I was cared for in the night by one who will never leave me nor forsake me. He will fight my battles if I call and remind me of my perfect creation. I live and breathe because of the divine purpose woven into my being. I am here. I am loved. I have purpose. I will never be alone, even in the dark night, when the mocker will try to break down my walls. The stone wall stands. I am protected. Nothing can separate me from His love and power.

This is more profound than any epic movie, timeless love story or hidden mystery buried deep in the ocean. This is truth revealed that will never diminish with time or space. A place of rest deep in your spirit that feeds your heart and soul something nothing in this world can give you. How amazing! How do we not see it every moment of every day? How do we miss it? Those who wrestle with the enemy find out who their true Saviour is. It's not food, drink, luxuries, homes, positions, even families. It's the peace that passes all understanding. It dwells in the revelation of forgiveness and restoration. It can only be seen once the participant is ready and searching in the deep. Then God reveals his perfect peace. His power to rescue and release you from your past, your future, your expectations of yourself. He fills your heart to full so that nothing is lived except for His purpose. As drowning, then suddenly pulled into the boat, saved from dying in the deep.

I am moved by my experience. I pray that even as it wafts away on the wings of daily living, I will come back here and remember my battle, and the ONE who saved me.

PC

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Spread Your Wings & Fly

Today feels like a day I could spread my wings and fly away to a far off land that flows with warm Caribbean waters and smells of rich earth.

There is so much here that I am grateful for, and yet a still small song of the adventure lures me. Living in the beauty of this moment is a practice I am yet learning. Every day I must lay down my self, look to the divine purpose, and open my hands to receive.

Being grateful in whatever circumstances is not a virtue our culture extols. We are told to strive harder for the pleasure of our wants, to look for the next bend in the road of our own plans. Life will speed up into a blur if I don't slow down to breathe in the amazing beauty of each experience I find myself in. All seem to be choices I make, but the hidden mystery is the guiding hand in each step, gently wooing me to a deeper understanding of myself and my True Love.

For when you fly away, you take your heart with you. You find the ecstasy of your new surroundings are only the perception of what your heart sees. I want to open the eyes of my heart to really see what is within which will then transpose into the song of the outer.

I will fly in my heart
To a place that belongs
Only to me and mine

A refuge from the past
Safety from harm
New joy and life sublime

What wonder I'll see
What truth will behold
For there I will know

The love of my life
His beauty of old
True Heart to show

PC



Sunday, March 6, 2011

one year anniversary


New Beginnings.
New thoughts.
New Focus.
New Compass.

A year has almost gone by since I last entered my sacred world. Where there is no one but me, my thoughts, my pictures and my inner voice.

I have morphed into a whole new being, although I have yet to truly display her.

I know she is more quiet, thoughtful, discerning. Letting life's drama flow more freely down her back. She loves to be observe more and speak less, although when there is time to speak, she prays there is merit.

I'm surprised to find her here. I had resolved to let this place go, not requiring a public forum ever again to spill out her soul. The surprise is a delight! Some things are not forgotten, just dormant until such time as they can be revealed again in better light.

I spoke once of being more practical, authentic in the story, facts depicting the picture, but have now seen that the beauty is in the fragmented splinters that slice through the sunlight. There is no structure needed. Whatever freely flows down into words is forgiven. What joy that is!

The vision is clearing after such blurred sight. So much needed to die, to be released. The roots went deep and even now I know there is still more to dig out.

But I am grateful. I am learning the grace of thanks and the miracle that follows. It was given to me by a new friend who knew I needed to read about Eucharisteo, Grace-Thanksgiving-Joy. Now my training begins. Each breathe, each moment of struggle, each beautiful-ugly that I see brings me closer to the bliss of gratefulness.

I will practice here. Now. In this place.

*sun streaming through the soft yellow curtains to rest on my prayer plant
*daughter in the next room quietly watching and waiting for inspiration and direction
*favorite lamp silhouetted against the noon light
*quiet house
*loving/caring family who never gives up
*forgiveness
*clear sight
*peace between parents
*friends who see and still care

So much more could be laid humbly down, but for today this will suffice. My own private thanksgiving tree to grow, nurture and live under.

What a blessing!

PC