"Money Grows on the Tree of Persistence" Japanese Proverb |
They say, "ask and you shall receive, knock and it shall be given unto you. You have not because you ask not." But is this not speaking about our interior desires for understanding and healing? Either way, if one does not reach up and grasp an opportunity, the blessing will be lost. Prosperity is all around us and who are the "they's" in our life anyhow?
Our thoughts will take us wherever we desire to go. But our thoughts go only as deep as our roots.Thoughts of the film SCROOGE come to mind. Ebenezer visited by the third angel was shown his dead self, the nature of greed metastasized from his broken heart. And Hitler, rejected from Vienna Art School, by a Jewish professor and a Jewish doctor couldn't prevent his mother's death. It is said he was brutalized as a youth, if only Hitler could have had Ebenezer's dream!
Just what are we harboring in our own hearts? What are the 'if only"...thoughts ?
In my community we share with the homeless, hungry and hurting, An outreach where rescued souls help others. Not unlike my profession as a protective investigator, we listen and discover their problem is just the tip of the iceberg; repeated motions by unimproved minds. They were only living like their parents did or sadly admitting creating a life they "vowed never to repeat". In many cases the abused became the abuser, breaking this cycle takes courage and persistence.Courage for the one seeking help and for the intercessor.
One story comes to mind, a story of a woman's extraordinary healing from her past. About three weeks into counsel she had a vision of a lonely barren tree (representing her life.) She didn't see this at first.
Just as the twig is bent, the tree's inclined. |
Early in its life, the tree was damaged to its core by a horrendous experience, stunting her future growth and leaving her vulnerable to the elements of life. It was at the end of her counsel she said God gave her another vision - this time of a thriving tree- "the Truth Tree", a tree filled with life; fruit, birds and insects all benefiting from the "luscious foliage and strong branches". The wound, still visible on the trunk had been healed and was no longer diminishing the fullness of life within her. She was released from the shame of her past and set free to live in fullness. She could sleep nights now and didn't have that "heavy feeling" in her heart. She forgave her oppressors, she forgave herself, she received life.
"On Earth as it is in Heaven" the Lord's Prayer |