This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?”
For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”
Romans 8:15 MSG, NKJV
The roses look dead in my garden.
Yet leaves still cling to thorny stalks that have stood upright through snow, cold, and the wicked winds that have whipped them.
Standing. Through the darkest season. With the barest appearance of being alive.
Grave-tending the life that once was.
Afraid to let go, lest all becomes lost to death.
Like me.
But.
Today.
Is the first day after.
Resurrection life has been offered to me.
Jesus alive, stretches out blood-stained hands, and beckons me to surrender my grave-tending life . . . to LIFE.
Take my sorrow . . . take my fear, Lord.
“What was, is past,” He whispers.
Turning from tending my grave of the life that was, the eyes of my child open to see what will be . . .
Wonder, joy, and the hope of things beautiful to come.
The grave is overcome.
There’s a day that’s drawing near
When this darkness breaks to light
And the shadows disappear
And my faith shall be my eyesJesus has overcome
And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won
He is risen from the dead.(I Will Rise, Chris Tomlin)
The victory over my was is won . . .
“What’s next, Papa?”
“The becoming of beautiful,” He whispers.
We celebrate the beauty of words…written in the white space–the empty room of freedom of thought–where words are created that sing, dance and illustrate life’s beauty.
More Writing in the White Space: