Foxes have been considered pests, sly, cunning and clever.
In Australia they are seen as an invasive species. They have caused many problems in the country, impacting the environment and agriculture, even causing many species to become extinct because of their predation.
In ancient Israel, little foxes were considered potential threats that spoil things of value. Even in the romance book of the ‘Song of Solomon’ the woman says to her beloved, “Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom.”
Even Jesus called the monarch a fox, a negative term to imply he was a cunning and sly individual.
Foxes are little. They walk around on their tip-toes, as if sneaking around. They dig through gardens and scatter weeds.
It’s the same with the little things in our lives that we think don’t have any major impact. Little white lies, negative thoughts, cruddy attitudes, bitterness…
I, for one, don’t want to accept the lies. Truth is my dagger, and I know that when light is present, darkness must flee.
You have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless, until they can find rest in you. ~Augustine
I am very affected by climate changes. When it’s sunny and warm, I am happy and full of life. When it is cold and grey, I am lethargic and down. Actually, I get very depressed.
I love the quote above by Augustine. It reminds me that my deepest needs can not be met in the material, nor by me. It reminds me that I need to run to one that is greater than me.
This poem was birthed out of deep depression and great need. It reminds me of what King David wrote in the Psalms; “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me?”
He spoke to his own soul; so I did the same. I went to the one that is higher than I and poured out my heart. And you know what? I found rest, comfort and reassurance. My mind was no longer playing tricks on me. I decided I was not going to be a prisoner to the screams in my mind and the tightness in my heart. That doesn’t mean that negative feelings never come back, but they can’t control me.
Sometimes when I listen to the Christmas song, ‘Breath of Heaven’ (music video in the first comment below) I start to cry. I think it’s because of the simplicity of it and the way that Mary addresses God, “Breath of Heaven”. She was just a young girl when an unexpected visitor showed up and shared a message with her that essentially changed the entire course of her life. She was engaged to be married to a simple carpenter, and she herself, was just a simple girl – that loved God.
As she silently prays to her maker, she’s extremely vulnerable and expresses to Him just how scared she is. She knows that the world is a cold place and she is feeling all alone. And rightly so. Imagine being in her place. A virgin, engaged to be married, in a society where it is absolutely unacceptable and punishable to have had sexual relations before marriage. And now she is carrying the son of God.
She pours her soul out to the only one that could possibly understand what she is going through. God, hold me together (I’m losing it). God, be forever near me (I feel so lost). God, lighten my darkness (the stone cold reality of this world is blinding me and I can’t see you). God, pour over me your holiness (for you are the only one that can ease my anguished heart).
I think it’s amazing how she addresses God as, “Breath of Heaven”. The word breath signifies life. Every bodily function depends on breathing as breathing is the most fundamental of all the body’s systems. It’s at the very core of life. When one stops breathing, one dies.
She also recognizes that she’s weak. She doesn’t see herself as one that is wise enough to be carrying such a serious responsibility. But the beautiful thing is that, even though she’s full of doubts and considers herself as unwise, it didn’t matter to God. What mattered was that she was willing to offer all that she is. What mattered was that she had a heart of humility and recognized she needed His strength, and not her own.
*Note on the art piece: Baby’s breath is considered symbolic of everlasting life and purity. I thought it apropos to include it in the star and around the border in response to the song and reflection.
I’m so sorry I’ve been absent. I was away for almost a week and had very little internet access. Plus, it’s summer here in Brazil and the kids are out of school and we will be traveling from the the 26th to January 10th. Once again I will have very little internet access. During this time I won’t be posting, but I will try and visit your blogs when I can get access to the internet and the time to do so.
I wish you all a very merry Christmas and a Happy new year celebration.
Are you an expert in anything? In art? In poetry? In photography? In parenting? In life? In anything at all?
The little drummer boy wasn’t, and he knew it. Heck, he was just a kid. An insignificant little boy. He probably came from a humble background. Maybe his father was a shepherd, which wasn’t considered a first class profession.
One thing he did possess though was curiosity and wonder. Like any little child, he wanted to know what all the excitement was about. “Come!” they told him. “A king has been born and we are taking our finest gifts to honor him.”
That little boy didn’t care if he was amongst the elite. Those that had fine gold and perfume. Those that possessed wealth and wisdom.
When they arrived at the humble stable, the little boy noticed that Jesus was just a poor boy, like him. He had to be, because the rich don’t have babies in stables. He knew, though, that Jesus was special. He was a king. The little boy didn’t feel like he had anything to offer him that would be worthy of honor. Nothing that would be fit for a king. He so badly wanted to give Jesus something, so he offered to play his drum for him. That’s all he had. Nothing material. Nothing with a price tag. Just his little drum that he carried around his neck.
So he played his drum for Jesus. Even the animals swayed with the tune. He played his very best for him, which was probably not perfect, being that he was just a young boy. He played with passion, and gave it his all. He knew he was doing it for a king.
Then Jesus smiled at him. W O W! The story doesn’t mention him smiling at the frankincense. It doesn’t mention him smiling at the myrrh. It doesn’t even mention him smiling at the gold. No. He smiled at the humble performance given with passion. He smiled at the gift given out of humility. The gift given from the heart.
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The Little Drummer Boy is my favourite Christmas carol. I love the simplicity and sweetness of it. What is your favourite Christmas carol and why?
The above article was written for the faith arts community, His Kingdom Come, where devotional articles are being published daily for the advent season.
Just a simple piece to start out the week. I don’t feel like it’s quite finished yet, but this is what I’ve got at the moment.
A very happy Labor Day to all of my Canadian and American friends. As for us down south, it’s Brazil’s Independence Day. I’m off to enjoy a bowl of Acaí cream with my family.
“Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it” –Mark 10:15
It must be the time of year, but I’ve been feeling so uninspired and blah. In Brazil we are heading into our winter, and although it’s often sunny, the temperatures have cooled considerably. One of my more recent posts touched on how my body reacts to climate changes. I get down and depressed.
I wrote the above poem and created the mixed-media piece thinking about how simple and trusting my faith used to be. Little children don’t worry about their lives. They are completely dependent on their parents for everything. A place to live, food to eat, an education, protection from harm. Little children don’t even think of these things. I believe that that’s how I need to be before God. I may be an adult with responsibilities, but if I don’t trust him like a child does their parents, it is so easy to try and do things on my own. When that happens, I am prey to worry, anxiety, fear and uncertainty.
I have seen God do some pretty amazing things in my life. Prayers have been answered and much healing has taken place in my heart and soul. All of my needs have been met, despite the lack of finances, and I believe that they will always be met by Him. I have found meaning and purpose, safety and security, provision and abundance. Yes, I think I will continuously seek to have the faith of a child.
What do you put your trust in?
A Kyrielle is a french poetry form and the rules are as follows:
Four line stanzas (quatrains)
Each line eight syllables long
The first two lines in each stanza rhyme.
The last two lines in each stanza rhyme are the same. Like a repeating refrain
Can you imagine what would happen to a tree if it didn’t get sunlight? The sun is absolutely necessary for most trees to grow and flourish. It is needed for photosynthesis to happen, and in turn sugar is produced, which feeds the tree oxygen and then is released into the air (source). We need oxygen to breathe – to live.
The above piece serves as a spiritual allegory for me. When the sun doesn’t shine, I’m weak and droopy. My colors aren’t vibrant, but more like monochrome and depressive. I need the sun. When I’m far from it I suffer depression. I get tired and fatigued. I get irritable.
I want to be that big, lush, tall, strong, mature, beautiful tree. I guess that means I need to keep turning my face toward the sun and allow it to do its work.
The above is the second mixed media piece that I did through the online class I’m taking over at, “His Kingdom Come” and created by, Shonna Bukaroff over at Twisted Figures. I decided to put the lyrics to my song, ‘True Love’ in it because I thought it befitting for the theme and what it made me think of. To be quite honest, it’s not my favorite song, but it is totally in line with my thoughts on this piece, which are faith, God’s unconditional love, and provision.
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