Like a Well-watered Garden

 I step outside this morning, bare feet to the damp grass, and feel the earth rejoicing, yielding, as last night's rain soaks into the parched soil. I have been ill this past week, feeling dry and parched myself during this long heat wave, so I feel the joy of every living thing at the profound blessing of water. 

I see the face of my four year old granddaughter, a New Mexico desert dweller, who was here recently with her parents to be the flower girl for our youngest daughter's wedding. The last time that it rained, two weeks ago, she ran out into a downpour, laughing, jumping and dancing. Rain for her is always cause for celebration!

As I think about rain as a joyful blessing, the verse that comes to mind is Isaiah 58:11:
The Lord will guide you always;
    he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
    and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
    like a spring whose waters never fail.

A well-watered garden is lush and green, producing fruit or flowers in abundance. To think of myself as a well-watered garden whose springs never fail as long as I keep my eyes focused on my Source, is both humbling and inspiring. This water of the Spirit, given freely to all who believe, never fails and breathes life and hope into all who yield, like the parched earth, to its life giving power. This is something I can hold onto...the joy that comes from knowing I have a spring within my own being that is continually renewed.

Thank you, thank you, thank you! 

 

I Set Down My Burdens and Find Peace

 

The cares and responsibilities of life can be like burdens that I carry around, often without even being aware of their joy-sucking impact on my spirit. Worries, decisions that have to be made, problems that I try to solve for others - all these and more can feel like a heavy suitcase of negative energy that I drag around.  I sense the need to release their hold on me, if only for a few moments and so I imagine just setting this heavy baggage down, giving it over to the Great Unseen Force of Unconditional Love and Light who we call God.  I let the suitcase go and follow the flow of my breath, connecting to my Source, accepting the abundance that is mine for the taking, simply because I am loved without measure.

There is no fear or lack in this space, there is no worry for others, because all will unfold as it is meant to be, in Divine timing.  Here I find only peace and joy, flowing freely, healing light washing  and setting free as love pours over all.

 This moment, admittedly, is fleeting, as worries will find their way back in through the cracks in my psyche.  But it gives me hope, strength for today and an assurance that I am never alone.

 

Set down your burdens, follow the flow of breath and accept the gift of abundance that is yours for the taking...