That’s a lot of words that just mean “things are not lining up.”
I’ve learned some things so far this year, about physical pain, heart ache, and spiritual understanding.
It’s all good… because I choose it to be.
We see baseball played on a diamond; which really isn’t a diamond; it is a square, set on a corner; then after hitting a home run, we don’t run, we jaunt; and circle the bases, we don’t square the bases or diamond the bases, we circle the bases; starting at home and ending at home.
Maybe that’s why we call it “circling the bases” because we wind up right back where we started.
Kinda like a garden.
You start with a piece of ground, covered in grass, or weeds, work it up; remove the sticks and stones; level it off; grid it for corn, peas & carrots, maybe a row for cut flowers for the table; and then…
You let it go for a year.
And it returns to where it started. Covered over by weeds and grass.
But you… you are not the same. You have learned something. And maybe someday, you will re-plant that garden or plant a new one somewhere else… because you can.
In the movies, the good old ones any way, the criminal always returns to the scene of the crime.
The Swallows always return to Capistrano.
And I… to illustrate an article… circled back to a time I have come to appreciate more and more.
My time at Rawhide Boys Ranch, as it was named when I was hired.
The experience I needed to recall was with a customer that I helped by delivering him his motorcycle.
And he delivered to me a life lesson, on ones personal perspective.
When I recalled that encounter I remembered the gentleman had gone as far as to send me a book, titled “Walking on the Wind: Cherokee Teachings for Harmony and Balance.”
The circle I have made is one of understanding how growth works.
Gods principle of “Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land.”
That principle applies to the occupants of Canaan; my mental anxieties; my handy skills; my knowledge and my understanding of things.
The gentleman who sent me the book, after a life dealing with “mans inhumanity towards man” had in turn, turned his back on what he called, “Christian Religion” because he saw what people do to other people in the name of God.
He placed himself on a path to find “healing wisdom,” as he called it. He had started to study to become a shaman.
At the time, I was understanding, and kind to him and his point of view.
But with my relationship at the time being what it was with Jesus, I never read the book. I paged through it, and saw it truly was historical wisdom of the Cherokee people.
It was years ago now, when I met that gentleman. I was afraid of disobeying God if I read certain books, or looked at certain worldviews. I thought I might corrupt myself some how.
The part of the verse that hits me is the part of “until you have increased enough.”
It speaks to: time needed; time having passed; and reaching a certain size, but with some size left to gain… meaning understanding gained, and understanding yet to be realized.
I wasn’t ready to receive the information, or even what I learned from that gentleman so long ago… with an open mind… I was still fearful.
Now as I read, and study, many people, many cultures, many perspectives… I can balance them off of my own… experiences; understanding; and relationship with Jesus.
Gods principles are universal by nature, just look at how he hung the sun, for everyone’s benefit.
But depending on our earthly experience; experience with others; experience with our environment… will determine our particular “belief system.”
I have gone through a certain “time” these last few months. I have grown. I have “increased” my understanding.
I believe I have come out kinder; more aware; more astute with people; stronger; and closer to God.
Right back where I started.
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