With shovel in hand, I headed down into a weedy, poison ivy filled ditch. I hit the shovel on the ground in front of me with every step hoping to scare off any snakes that may have been lying under the dead leaves and brush. My tall rubber boots sunk down into piles of sticks, thorns, leaves and mud. YIKES! This was not my complete idea of fun! I kept my eyes on the purple beauties in front of me knowing they'd soon be mine if I could step over and under dead branches and quickly dig them up. Soon enough, I had these sweet delicate babies in hand and I had them in some healthy dirt under my favorite tree! They looked so lovely, I decided I wanted to go back for more. So I went the same route into the ditch, but this time I had to head further still. I had poison sumac surrounding my feet as I pushed the shovel into the ground. The second batch was harder to dig up. I was digging into solid rock. How were these flowers even rooted? Eventually, I got these purple pretties up too and there were even more in this bouquet! Totally worth it! I headed back up and planted these under the same tree. I had done it! I had rescued these little hidden treasures! I can't tell you how many times I've looked and admired them in their new home. Isn't it funny? I've planted some flowers from the nursery, but these are captivating my attention! Maybe it's because they were a little surprise gift to me, or maybe it's because I had to work so hard to get them.
As I thought about my little venture, I couldn't help relating it to God's great mission to save us. There He saw us! "Beautiful", He thought, as He longed to pull us out of the circumstances we were growing in. "Why hide such beauty? I want it for myself", He said as He plunged into the dark ugliness of the world to pull us out of the muck and mire. And now as He gazes upon us He radiates with delight. Yes, we are His precious creation, but more than that, He remembers what it took to save us. He remembers giving up His life so that we could flourish in good soil.
I'm more 'outdoorsy' than I used to be. The snakes and spiders are still not my favorites, but the beauty and adventure in the outdoors are my favorites, so it's well worth the risk of the not so appealing. I'm learning to be more risky in other areas as well. I'm learning that if we are truly His hands and feet today that I cannot 'play it safe'. I'm learning that to be working for the Kingdom means to give up your comfortable spot on the blanket in the meadow. It means you don't always stay on the trail that's been beaten down by those before you. You pray for eyes to see the beautiful things deep down in the woods that are unseen by most. Living risky means you're ready. You're not so worried about having on your garden sundress and sandals as you are your mud boots and gloves. You don't mind not being noticed. You never know where the adventure's going to take you so, as much as you'd love to relax in a field of sunflowers, you want to be ready. You admire the others enjoying the sunshine and the fresh cut grass, but you know it isn't for you. You're on a mission. The same mission Jesus was on 2000 years ago,
and you're going to get dirty. Yes, you enjoy some things as you go along the grown up path, but you don't stop long. You've gotta keep your eyes fixated on why you're on the path in the first place. If you move your gaze, you might long for the easier road you were on before you decided to risk it all. You could be deceived into thinking this life is all about your enjoyment and your comfort, and it's not. But Jesus assures us, it's so worth it!
Who ever follows me must lose his life...(Matt 10:39)
Gain more in this life and the next... (Mark 10:29)
We are his hands and feet...(Matt 28:19, John 14:12-14)
We are not our own...(1 Cor. 6:20)
