I Bought 3 Plums
The first one was explosive! Not only of flavor, but I ran to grab a paper towel to contain the juice that was bursting out of it, fulfilling it’s role as nature’s candy. Fruit = nature’s candy > manmade candy.
And I say that because I’d just finished a pack of Sour Patch kids.
We have options that lead us to the same outcome. Eh hem. I mean the “same” outcome. Outcome: God designed my body to require nourishment. I honor God when I fulfill this law.
When I’m hungry, I can’t focus. I’m “easily distracted”. But full belly Joval will be learning and growing and thriving. Hungry Joval is surviving. Yeah, I need to eat, but the types of food I choose to get energy from varies, and so too does the type of energy is gives. Sustained energy or impending sugar crash?
Anywhosickles, the second plum was still good but no where near the first.
And the third plum?! Huh! It was terrible. It might’ve gone bad.
I wasn’t just talking about plums.
Sometimes in life, we expect all the experiences to look the same as the first one and we chase after it, disappointed that it wasn’t as good. Chasing compulsively. Unable to control ourselves which doesn’t track because what’s that abort the fruits of the Spirit?
I have them but do I own them? Do I take them up like armor shielding me from the harm of the outside world?
Or do I let it collect dust?
One day, you’ll wake up line from a deep sleep and say “Hark! I have this thing!” And you’ll read the word for yourself and see that he is good.
His mercies endure. He is God and he isn’t like people. He doesn’t hurt, he heals. You hurt yourself but you’ll soon come to remember or perhaps even know that God’s already given you the tools to heal yourself.
He’s empowered you. As in, you already have the power within you to transform, heal, and recover to become the person you envision you can be. You’re powerless in your own strength, but powerful in his.
Resilience training. It’s a thing. It’s about not being fragile. Knowing that you’re unbreakable because you always come back together. Get knocked down 6 times, get up a 7th. I can’t watch boxing because it pains me. I’m screaming “just stay down!” as if it’s me in the ring.
When I’m not careful, I let my patterned way of being (thinking, working, spending, creating, complaining, etc.) hold me hostage from heaven of earth. From God’s best for me, his child.
Or perhaps, you’re broken but been repaired and been made whole. Cracks filled with gold to enhance beauty like in the Japanese form of kintsugi. He is the potter and we are the clay.
Moldable. Pliable. Movable. Adaptable. Flexible. Sensitive. Changing.
People say it like it’s a bad thing!
Nature changes constantly. Nature, as in made by God. The same one who made us.
Some people want to remain unchanged.
Let them.
Love isn’t demanding control. Love isn’t transactional. Love isn’t holding someone in an emotional headlock while they beg for mercy.
Love is patient. Kind. It protects.
Attention isn’t love. Mirroring isn’t love. Flattery isn’t love. Charisma isn’t love. Lust isn’t love.
Our patterns of behavior, which some call our addictions, hold us hostage. We hold ourselves hostage when we don’t notice. When we can’t or won’t see what’s in front of us.
We need people who love us, who see God in us, to tell us the truth. Not “brutal honesty” because why are they killing me while telling me about myself?! That’s wild, and self centered and unhelpful. No thanks!
Don’t let people hide in plain sight. Make sure your people are actually your people and will tell you when they see the snake but it was a mirage of everything you wanted reflected back you to. They showed you you, so of course you love them.
Now forgive yourself for not seeing what couldn’t be seen by you in time already gone by.
One way to heal is through self forgiveness.
Anyway, I bought 3 plums and there’s always more to see than meets the naked eye. Perspectives- take them.
