Eagle's Wings

I was sitting outside enjoying a warm summer day when I noticed that the tree in the corner looked like a bird with wings wide spread.  I heard the chorus in my head, "And God will raise you up on eagle's wings, bear you on the breath of dawn, make you to shine like the sun, and hold you in the palm of God's hand."  What a beautiful image for this day and song for my heart.  God is sufficient.  

Then my mind wandered.  I thought of the image I was seeing.  This magnificent image of a bird in flight that set my soul to soaring was created by vines that have encased the trees growing and spreading throughout the woods behind the parsonage.  The reality for the tree is that it is surrendering its life to these vines.  Then I thought about the places in my life where I believed I saw God at work, but found it to be an image that was breathtaking on the outside and what created the image, what was holding it in place was dying.  The image more important than the One who had given the vision to the community.  What was needed for life to spring forth was to cut back the beautiful growth and expose the framework to the healing power of the Son. 

 Then I remembered I had a picture from the winter of the same view.  I decided I needed to know what was tree and what was vine.  Just as I have had to discern in my faith journey what was of God and what had only an image of a Godly path.  For the tree, the shape of a bird in flight is not so clear.  I am instead reminded of a person with raised hands in a flowing robe.  Both images, both figures are open and vulnerable.  Just as the tree is vulnerable to the vines, I too am vulnerable when I open myself to the world around me.  Is that not what a life of faith is about, being open and vulnerable, knowing God will hold us in the palm of God's hand?  God bearing me on the breath of dawn requires me to open wide my arms and not resist the pull of God's will.  God will make me shine like the sun when I turn towards God's light and God's love because I will be the reflection of God's love upon me towards the world.  God is sufficient.

It is always fun to see images in clouds or in trees that fleetingly hold my heart, images that can bring to my remembrance hymns of praise or words of faith.  I love how the images in clouds can change even as I see them.  I remember then that they are not real, only God is real.  The trees in the field have given me images of faith this day for which I am grateful.   There could be a moment when Kudzu holds a moment of God's grace.

All I have to do is allow joy, allow love, allow God,
One of Many