Sprouting Again

Birth.  Rebirth.  Growth.  More growth.  Growth leads to reproduction.  More birth.  More rebirth.  The cycle continues.  When we open ourselves to life, we open ourselves to the process of reproduction, growth, and multiplication.  It is inevitable.  It is for sure.

It must continue.  That is comforting when things are hard - joy comes in the morning.  But when things are good, it can be troubling.  It means painful transitions are around every corner.  Perpetually.  Never get too comfortable with one stage of development, ever.

Rebirth, remember, is for those who have experienced birth already.  They have been through the cycles - the advantages of some, the disadvantages of others.  They have been through this cycle before but are never really done with it.  There is still much to be learned.

Newness always abounds in the cycles of rebirth.

No matter our age or experience, there must be real vulnerability.  New ignorance.  New unknowns.  New fear.  New risks.  New stakes.  All the other births before only lead up to this one now.  They can not help us.  Today is a new day.  Say “yes” again today.

Only then can new or re-birth happen, again.  Past times are past.  This is something new.  Something different.  Something pure.  Something special.  We do not have to understand it.  We may not.  But we must listen to it.  We must allow it the room to produce what it will.

We can not judge our work in that sense, because we do not yet know what it is.  It is special.  It is other.  It is something for which we can not yet understand.  It is a mystery.  A child.  One we do not know yet.  Our goal is simply to release what is, not to understand it.

We can not know our part in history. We do not know what this work will lead to, or lead others to.  Our work is not only for ourselves.  Our work is for others.  And it is for a purpose which we can not always see.  But without our work the wheels of providence can not move.

We are part of something.  An invisible network.  Working for good.  Connecting what is lost.  Bringing to bear what is right, worthwhile, a blessing.  We offer the world something essential, as essential as air or water.  We offer the world beauty, a fresh look at the truth.

And that may be the ultimate blessing.  Certainly the Apostle Paul did not want to be holed up by Roman gaurds in a prison.  But in no other way would he have had the time to focus and write what is now the better part of the New Testament.  Would he have ever gotten to this?

Confess what is going on inside.  Admit the truth.  Your restlessness itself is proof that what matters most is in there.  It is telling us something about ourselves.  We have a dream inside.  Focus on that.  Let that boil to the top.  Listen carefully.  Something beautiful is sprouting…again.