Planting Bulbs

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:

              a time to be born and a time to die,

              a time to plant and a time to uproot

              a time to bask in the glory of the sun, with flowers in bloom and a garden bursting with life

       and a time for a season that is colder, 

                                                                  sparser, 

                                                                              darker, 

                                                                                         harder.

               a time where there is a chill in the air.

But I will not shut myself away behind closed doors,

                       comfort myself and withdraw.

       I will listen out intently, craning my neck to hear his whispers on the wind

                                                                 coaxing me,

                                                                 drawing me out to face the elements. 

                                                                              with Him.  my hands in His.

Standing in the debris of the garden, surveying what has been lost and what is dying

He reminds me that He is 

                                          an all year round, 

                                               all weather gardener.

He's not simply a florist who arranges cut stems for instant gratification and decoration.

He is an expert gardener, 

                                        committed, 

                                                          the planner with a perfect plan, 

                                                                                                           a hard grafter, 

                                                                                                         always at work

yes there is a time and a season for everything,

     but in every time and season there can be hope, 

                                                                        life 

                                                                        and growth.

And so he's asking me to plant bulbs.

They are not an instant fix to my sad looking garden, 

               there's no sudden transformation.  

                                                        But there is growth 

                                                        a slow growing.  

                                                        so much unseen underground but no less true.

These bulbs are my 'just turning up', 

                          my shouting prayers and the silent ones, 

                          my tears of disappointment, 

                          the lifting my hands to worship when the words can't come out, 

                          my accepting help, 

                          my reaching out.  

They are perseverance and dogged determination to love Him 

                                                                              worship Him 

                                                                    and walk with Him

This is a time for digging deep, sleet in my face, shivering hands.  Planting small bulbs.

I am a defiant worshipper in the presence of my enemies. 

In all seasons you will find me here

                                                         summer and spring, of course

                                                         but in autumn, yes

                                                         in winter, yes!

I am not going anywhere. 

You see I am His. I've been bought.  Purchased.  Forever and ever amen.

So let the storms come, hail, hurricaines, hell and high waters

                                                          I will not be shaken, 

                                                          I will not be moved

                                                          I will simply put my roots down deeper.

                                                          I am growing up.