The Bucket
I have a very old bucket in my garden- so old that it truly could be classified as an antique. It is decorative, and appears quite intact. There is a plant growing in it. But if you look more closely, or pick it up, you will discover that the bottom is all rusted out. The plant is growing directly in the garden and the bucket comes right up without disturbing anything. Just like it was never there.
Sometimes I feel like that bucket. Been around a long time. I’m amazingly intact, (good genes) and unless you see me before I paint on my missing eyebrow, my looks probably wont scare you! However, evidences of rust do show up now and then. And once in a while when I take time to feel sorry for myself, I think that if I disappeared, nobody would notice.
Come on, now. Doesn’t anyone else ever have thoughts like that?? LIke “Its been forever since I last posted on this blog. Life has been good at pulling the rug out. Do I still have anything worth saying? Did I ever?”
So, instead of trying to scrape the bottom of my bucket for words of wisdom that somebody else MIGHT want to read, I’m asking God to open my eyes and ears to some of the ways He speaks. I have a feeling that there are myriad things He is saying constantly in the world around me, that I miss by being too busy to notice.
Tell you what- I’ll be keeping my eyes and ears open, and let you know what happens. Hmm. I guess it was a rusty, old bucket that started all this, wasn’t it??
Well, well…..this is just lovely you rusty old bucket! So glad to see you on here again! …and yes, I would notice……
Thak you daughter dear. i think you will like the new blog about the Hoe. <3
i too, am a rusty old bucket….the thing is that the beauty that is growing inside of me is really rooted and grounded in the soil that appears to be held by the bucket, rooted and established in Love. This reminds me of John 15:5 ….apart from Me you can do nothing. My bucket is an empty shell anything of beauty comes from Him. Remove the bucket and His beauty remains all you hold is an empty bucket. I am grateful He uses me to reveal His works.
Thank you for your thoughts. Each interpration is just a bit different- like we are!
Oh we would notice! Because we’re rooted and established in the same garden! Please keep writing. The world would not be the same without your words. I love you.
Laurie, Laurie— I still say we are just never all there until you arrive! I love you too!
I have to tell you Gay, I look forward to seeing your beautiful presence every time I come to The Hill…It’s not because of your cosmetic artistry, it is because of who you are in Christ, and HIS presence shines through you so beautifully!!! Your spirit is so sweet and I feel like I am experiencing the kindness of GOD through you. You are truly a gift to us all.
Thank you GOD for sharing Gay with us!
Robin, you are so affirming and encouraging. Bless you! And don’t be forgetting the gift that you are to all of us!
I love the imagery. Like in Psalms where David speaks of the man who meditates day and night on the Word of God. That he will be like a tree planted by streams of water, bearing its fruit in it’s season, and whatever he does he prospers. Don’t look now, but your fruit is showing!
Thank you Josh, for the encouragement! I kinda like the idea of letting God speak through the “mundane’ (is there any such thing??) I’m starting to hear all sorts of ideas!
Gay…I guess the bottom has to come out to allow God’s creative and healing presence to flow through…..His planting grows the better for for the openess. You bring up the point that you feel invisible…..believe me, you’re not! But in a way you are probably the more effective in your transmitting His love when you are the conduit of His blessing instead of relying on your own strength. You are wonderful and are certainly not empty with all the vitality of creation within you.
Your posting made me teary! That’s a good thing….Love you.
Thank you, sweet sister! You express yourself so beautifully– you should check out WordPress.com- so easy to set up! Love you too!