A Happy Birthday!

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Dillingham Fountain from a distance

Good Afternoon, God!

A lovely day . . . with walks and talks and breakfast out . . .  and two trips to the local Hawaii Kai Farmers’ Market. And it is barely afternoon! It’s also my happy Birth Day.

I chose this photo, God, because it makes the fountain in the distance seem wilder and more random . . . more like life. And, it makes me think of what Jesus said in John 7:38: “Streams of living water will flow from deep within the person who believes in me.” I love that image . . . that promise.

But, we do need to dredge out Rocks of Regret, Resentment and Rage . . . to allow the waters  to flow. In me, the Water often trickles. I am semi-willfully blind to all the rocks I have buried, covered over . . . or made idols and altars of.

Ooooh. Those last few words surprised me. Have I made an Idol or an Altar of a Regret? Well, yes, of course I have. But it will take work to discover all the details. Actually, it will take Time Set Apart. It will take Prayer and Fasting. Fasting so my energy can go to digesting my past . . . instead of my lunch.

The point is to START! Yesterday on Good Friday I went for a 90 minute silent prayer walk with a friend in the woods — in complete silence. And, what did I hear from You?

I heard: “Burn Your Boats.” This clearly referred to three sailing ships encrusted in the ice of grief in my inner inland sea. Burn them? That is what generals do after they land their forces, so the soldiers cannot turn back. I cannot turn back either, can I God . . .

So, here is the Torch, God . . . let past failures burn . . . and let the ashes be replaced with the Oil of Gladness.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.