As the search for an integrated, joined-up life continues I have been experiencing one of ‘those’ things. Those times in life when coincidences meet, where words jump out and where increasingly ‘that’s weird’ becomes ‘that’s amazing;’ and where ‘that’s amazing’ becomes ‘this has to be a God thing.’
Leaving the security of the family ‘home’ in terms of the Church I have grown up in, has been a bitter sweet experience. I was geared up for a final service full of emotion, nostalgia and goodbyes. In reality it was those things, but in the midst of the rain, a butterfly landed, bought by the Sun.
I had taken my final communion when into my mind came the picture of a butterfly struggling to leave its chrysalis, and emerging free and ready to fly. As we stood to share the story of our being ‘re-planted,’ lifted at the roots and moved into the new, the picture of this free, beautiful symbol flitted across my consciousness and reminded me that in leaving the stability of the past, I was released for the new. As we thanked our family for our roots, we celebrated our wings.
Over the last two weeks I have realised that these roots remain, built and established in love. The ties to family, the care of His people, the love of His word, the muscles exercised by prayer, faith and worship, will continue to be a source of nourishment. But slowly and carefully, my wings are spreading and I am looking to the Sun.
I went to a meeting where the phrase ‘roots and wings’ was introduced to me, and it resonated, really resonated. It wouldn’t leave my mind, itself taking flight. ‘That’s me, that’s my journey.’ I search and the first blog which came up was this https://ellel.org/uk/daily-devotionals/roots-and-wings. It speaks about our roots grounded in the Bible. This has been another part of the last few months. having been totally art phobic, and to be honest, scared of anything drawing related, I have discovered a beauty in using art to explore the Bible. I’ve been frustrated for months, struggling in my increasing awareness that I didn’t understand it all, but knowing that the Bible was something spectacular which I couldn’t grasp, yet couldn’t put down. I didn’t know where to start, I looked to theology, to hermeneutics, but I couldn’t quite get there. Then I discovered art, and through paint, ink and pencils, the Bible has begun to soak into me, the roots have begun to come alive. I looked for a passage on roots, and turned to Ephesians 3:17 ‘Your roots will grow down into God’s love,’ these were from the same section of the Bible discussed in our leaving service.
And today, as I found myself deliberately in God’s presence, two of God’s family prayed with me. Unknowing of my journey, one thanked God that He had enabled me to soar, while the other thanked Him that my roots were deepening.
As I ‘Praise in the Hallway’ I am so grateful that my roots, as several friends have shared with us recently, are strong in Him, and that I am able to receive nourishment. I am grateful that He has released me to fly, and that as I wait on Him I will ‘soar on wings like eagles’ (Isaiah 40:31). I don’t know where this journey will take us, but as I wait low I find that I am fed and as I crouch down I find that I am released to fly.
Last Sunday, the four of us said our farewells to the church community that has been our spiritual home for the last 20+ years. Taking the plunge to move away from those who have loved and supported us through our teenage years, as we dated & got married and in raising our children has probably been one of the hardest decisions we’ve had to make.
It is! But it is an adventure. One that is a bit daunting for all of us, but also exciting. We bought this canvas photo print some months ago that has been on the wall in our kitchen. We didn’t know at the time how prophetic it would be!