Reflection in the garden: The vine and the trellis (healing)
I spent a few moments in the garden during a break this afternoon, and the words of a friend resonated in my mind. He said…”Also, to put a positive twist to Fr. Rufus’ statements about “so many sick people ” here coming for prayer:……God is so good; at least now they are coming for prayer to be healed. Many have had severe illnesses and conditions for many years, and have come for the first time for prayers.” As I reflected on Ted’s words, a smile came to my face.
Yes, God is good! I sensed He has been waiting patiently for His children to come, and yet they were not ready until now. He has waited many long years, repeatedly softly whispering for each to come to “Daddy” and yet, many continued to turn their backs on Him, believing they could heal themselves in their own way.
The Father then reminded me about the thorny blackberry vine I left behind yesterday, which I had surrounded by planting new greens around it. Once again He reminded me that at times, He doesn’t heal immediately because the individual would just fall back to his/her old ways. I remembered how He revealed how spoiled rotten I would have been had He given me everything I asked for. Remember the destruction of the Microbiology building I had repeatedly prayed for because I did not prepare early enough for my exams? That was such a selfish prayer and yet I prayed for it repeatedly for my own personal gain.
“Humble Pie” is such a painful “desert” to consume, but at times, that is what we need to “eat” to put our pride aside and to ask for help. Through the years, I have been poked and cut repeatedly by the “thorns” the Father had left behind in my life that now, I don’t hesitate to run and call out for Him.
Was the Father being mean? In my opinion, although the “thorns” of depression and anxiety “cut” me deeply and it was a living hell to learn to live with those sharp “thorns”, my answer would immediately be “NO!” I believe I would have continued to walk around like a zombie and I would still be looking for the “why” in my life had I not come to my senses. My life is now fuller and richer than it’s ever been because I realized I needed to know the Father, OUR Father, personally and He desparately wanted to know me in an intimate and tender fashion. I am so glad He gave me the grace to realize I needed to put my stubborness and pride aside and say “Hi Daddy! Can You help me?”
My thoughts now move to the flowering vine I transplanted beside the fence. I had “built” my version of a trelis for it, but as I was attempting to weave the vine through the trellis, I sensed the Father saying “not too quickly now”. I sensed Him saying that I should not rush the vine up the trellis and that it needed to spend some time lying on the ground. He reminded me that it would “climb” up the trellis in time…but it would not be in mine, but in HIS time.
God bless,
Melissa – April 28, 2010