If you haven't read this blog I wrote, you may want to first.
The irony is not lost on me that Jesus was hungry and blasting a defenseless fig tree with barrenness after "leaving Bethany." ha! That's funny. Our baby is incredibly cute and I can't imagine life without her. I am thankful she's here, but sometimes, I feel the same darn way. I can appreciate that Jesus had hunger. Even though he could feed thousands with a single loaf. To me, I relate to this as a hunger for God's provision. A "what about me?" moment.
Seriously though. When I visit a link such as this one, I realize there is nothing "defenseless" about a fig tree at all. The very nature of the fig tree seems significant in this story. Look at the massive size of the tree, the abundance of delicious fruit, the way the roots are so expansive and copious. In certain pictures, the sheer massive size lends itself to supporting homes. In other pictures, the roots find their way across faces of cliffs. When a tree like this is barren, it takes up a lot of space but doesn't produce much fruit. It reminds me of the far-reaching effects of my words and actions, especially with my children. I have been seeing the "Veggie Tales" version of a fig tree in my mind...which would probably look something like a little cactus in the middle of a huge desert with Larry the cucumber looking on...while in actuality, it is an impressive, impactful organism which occupies a sizable portion of the landscape.
Notice the position of the verses. The part I kept out was the incident with the moneychangers after Jesus cursed the fig tree and prior to the disciples noticing it had withered. This reminds me of how our greater, "justified" anger over social issues can bleed over into our personal responses to life's challenges. As I mentioned in an earlier blog, this election has started to emotionally ick me out, and all of the world's affairs right now are bleeding into my daily waking life. How to maintain a balance of awareness and to contribute positively in the many areas of this world's need while not teetering on the edge of the muck and even falling in periodically?
Certain times like these, I realize I am holding onto myself very tightly and not permitting God to work on the areas in me that I so desperately need Him to. I have been humbled...no...deeply shaken would be the better phrase...at God's transforming love, His ability to erase entire thought patterns and destructive tendencies. I mean this completely literally. Certain habits I have held onto so tightly, once I have truly pried my own fingers off, have completely withered and disappeared in an instant, permanently and completely. I need to do this now and let go to Him because I want to have faith in Him and not stay focused on my neediness.
In Matthew, Jesus questions his disciples straight up about their physical hunger: "Why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread?...How is it you don't understand that I was not talking to you about bread? Be on your guard against the yeast..." (Mt 18:8,11) He refers to the yeast, the quality that permeates and causes to rise, the "heart stuff."
"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men." (Mt 5:13) and in Mark, "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other." Salt, a flavor and preservative, more distinctly necessary then, of course, in an age with no refrigerators! I'm thinking of a delicious and nourishing jar of preserved, vibrant salmon in the darkness and freezing cold of the arctic winter.
On that note, I think I hear sweet Bethany now waking up for an early morning snack. More later.
I like salt. It makes me happy.
ReplyDeleteThe photos are awe striking.
Starting reading Oprah's big recommendation-A New Earth. Have you read it? I'm just in the beginning stages, but some of what you are speaking of sounds much like the book. I like-so far.
Hope you are well.
I can certainly echo your feelings in your fourth paragraph. Sometimes I find though, that I have the greatest struggle after I have allowed God to again show me what I am. It should be the catalyst for change, and as you wrote transformation. Instead I often find myself hurt and maybe a bit angry and I withdraw myself, to lick my wounds. In a sense I wreck the whole experience. Pruning is necessary to bear fruit, how does one get through the pruning process and have faith that someday there will be fruit?
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