What are shadows
but the absence of light
If you haven't noticed by now, I find endless inspiration in nature and desserts. So rich. So much variety. So little time to experience it all!
I love standing in my kitchen with a hot cup of coffee warming my hands as I relish the morning sunrise. It's such a glorious experience. Each new day is a clean slate, ushering in hope, possibility and opportunity. If no one else in the house is awake yet, I can spend ten peaceful, blissful minutes just staring, dreaming and imagining. I can talk to God, uninterrupted, and hopefully hear something in return.
The other day, I couldn't help but focus on the long shadows cast over my yard, almost reaching house, It seemed like the trees were trying to stretch out their branchy arms to spread out everywhere and block out my precious light. To prevent me from basking fully in the warm glow of the sun and receiving the maximum vitamin D available to me.
Shadows, cast by obstacles, obstructions, and intrusions.
What shadows in my life keep me from a life of complete exposure to the Light?
Shadows of doubt.
Shadows of jealousy.
Shadows of past failures.
How do I remove the shadows?
Go around the obstacles.
Remove the obstacles.
Blow them up.
In this case, the obstacles are trees. Trees that started as a seed, took root and grew stronger and taller over time. Trees that have become so well established that it's hard to picture life without them.
Experiences planted seeds of doubt, jealousy and fear of repeat failure.
Maybe I watered them along the way and helped them thrive. Or maybe I just ignored them and hoped they would go away.
In either case, the work of removing them is hard. To fell a deep-rooted tree requires a plethoric amount of chopping, sawing and cutting. Removing thought patterns and behaviors and relearning and replacing them with new ones is also a monumental feat but as Benjamin Franklin stated, "Little strokes fell great oaks."
And although I am absolutely thrilled by the idea of using TNT, I know it's time to sharpen my saw, roll up my sleeves, and get to work.
I hope that you find the strength and endurance to remove whatever blocks out the light in your life too. Let's get busy like beavers together!
timmmmmberrrrr!
