Beautiful Thorns

I am in the middle of the yard project from ... well you know where. It's not actually our yard, but the woods behind our yard, affectionately known as our "lot." Last year, we had the "green wall" which mostly consisted of thorny masses and life size vines of what I'm sure was something poisonous, all to camouflage the myriad snakes, spiders and other creepy crawly things. I hate things that crawl, so I was quite comfortable having them hidden. By this time last year, you could not walk through, see through, or otherwise discern anything save for the tops of trees that we knew were surely back there...just hidden. There were tons of birds that we could hear...not many we could see. It was beautiful, from a distance. We referred to it as our virtual aviary (because we really couldn't see the birds). Lush, green, vivid. The problem is, it was really weeds, thorns, and all manner of undesireable brush. Completely unattended. For years. And now it was ours.

So this spring as the green world was peeping out from what had to be the mildest winter on record, we decided to take action. Of course, many trips to Home Depot later, we now own more hand tools than I ever wanted and are about to embark on the "chain saw" purchase. Our lot consists of piles of brush, sticks, vines, thorns and debris as proof of our labor. It is a consuming project - it consumes our time, our strength, our nerves and our patience. It seems like it will never end; every time we start, it is difficult to stop because this vine leads to that bush, which leads to this tree, and so on. But at the end of each day's work, as we stand back and survey our accomplishments, something inspiring takes place. We see beauty. A tree here; a path there; deer grazing at dusk; bright blue birds flitting from branch to branch, calling to each other. And standing there drenched in sweat, covered head to toe with bugs and dirt, pricked by thorns that went through gloves and shoes, barely able to shade our eyes from the sun due to fatigue and sore muscles...it all seems worth it.

As we labor through this project, I see God's Hand at work in my life in much the same way. My heart has thorns and weeds that have grown up around it. There are places that are walled in by a thick mass of hurt, disappointment, jealously and greed. Just as thorns and weeds can choke out a plant's life and deprive it of necessary sunlight and nourishment, so these things do to my heart. I can't "will" them away...they have deep roots and require pruning, cutting, and breaking. Sometimes weeds come out easy, especially after a rain. Other times, they resist and threaten to pull the tree down as well. But strong trees with deep roots hang on; they don't die. They might lose a branch in the struggle, but they are ultimately stronger for it; you see, once the weeds and thorns are removed, the tree is free to receive ample sunlight and water so it can fluorish to an even greater height.

My heart will survive whatever pruning God does. Though it is painful and I might give up a branch or two, it will be worth it because beauty will be revealed from behind and beneath these thorns. And just like my woods, I will be free to soak in the Son and drink the living water.

I don't know how long our project will last...I suspect it will last just long enough. And when it is complete, something else will be complete as well in me.