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| “Tree Woman” © Susan Flynn |
I’m sitting down to write on the blog this morning. I haven’t posted on the blog since
September. It’s not that I haven’t been
writing because I have. I have been
writing more in my journal and in margins of books I am reading. I’ve been collecting so much great
information that it’s been difficult to hone in on one particular subject. I have scattered thoughts; and it’s difficult
to stitch together ideas, even though there are common themes.
Some people call this writer's block. For me, that isn’t exactly what this has
been. I’ve been going through a period
of growth over the past few months. I’m
experiencing some growing pains. I met a
wise woman at a book club I went to yesterday.
She was sharing about personal growth and compared herself to a small
shrub. She said as a shrub she had been
pruned so that new life would grow. She’s slowly growing into something
bigger and stronger. She shared that at
times the growth after the pruning is slow and delicate…buds form at an effortless
rate. Flowers open up in a timely manner,
small green leaves form and slowly unroll.
It’s all very beautiful and feels good.
She also shared that at other times a new, large branch just shoots out
from her. She compared this growth as
unexpected and painful. This new branch
takes some getting used to.
As I listened to her words, tears filled my eyes. I could relate to her experience of growth…sometimes
my own growth is slow and delicate and other times I have to work to find my
balance again, to balance the new part of myself. Lately I feel a bigger branch has grown, but
not unexpectedly. It’s the work of
finding the balance again that is unexpected.
I’ve been posting my 30 Days of Thankfulness to my Facebook
page. Even that has been difficult for
me. Not because I am not grateful. I have SO much to be grateful for. I just find myself in deeper thoughts and am
having a difficult time putting into words what is on my mind and in my
heart. My internal processor has been
working overtime.
So, today I think I’ll try to keep it simple. Simply stated, I am thankful for growth. However delicate or painful it may be. God has big plans for me! I am a tree that has small flowers blooming
and a new big branch sticking out that needs some foliage to balance it
out. I have exposed roots and even different
seasons showing all at the same time.
This oddness represents where I have been, where I have grown from—the “seasons”
I have been through. If you see me trudge
myself around in a different way than usual it’s just because I am trying to
find my balance with this new, large branch.
But, I am so grateful for my funkiness.
Thanks for reading.
*I found the amazing artwork by chance online. It perfectly shows how I see myself! I need
my artsy sister to make me a rendition.
