As I approach I’m awestruck by the presence of this magnificent, God created masterpiece. Its spiraling core, the
fullness of its branches, its abounding fruitfulness, its wide strong base on which the foundation was created. The
life that that it brought to its fruit. I knew I had to dwell in its branches. I had to breath the air that it produced, just
maybe if I I had a taste of its fruit it would bring me strength and growth like its roots. I knew I had to build my
home within it,I had to become like this masterpiece that God created.
Before leaving for a women’s retreat called Beauty for Ashes I told myself not to hold back… Lay everything on the
wire.I knew if God was going to do his work within me this needed to be done.
The first day of Beauty for Ashes, the first question they asked was how do you see God? And to be honest I never
really put much thought into it. For the next few minutes I concentrated on that question. I drew a few small pictures
but I felt it was not exactly how I pictured God. It was about time for us to share and I was feeling the pressure to
draw anything…I prayed, “just give me a picture” The picture was an massive, strong magnificent God created
masterpiece, an olive tree that I desperately want to climb. I’m not sure why I want to climb it but I knew I needed
to climb it. The problem was that I was unable to reach the branches, the trunk was too massive to wrap my arms
around, and I was not able to get a good grip to pull myself up. With disappointment I just sat down and looked up.
This is how I pictured God. A magnificent creation that I needed to know, but unable to get a grip on, so I stared
intently from a distance.
The second question; draw a picture of pain. The first picture that came to mind was something I did not want to
draw. I would have drawn anything else if that anything else came to mind but the only thing was a church. I’m
participating in a christian women’s retreat and the only picture I can think of that has caused me pain was a church.
Awesome….but “don’t hold back” this is the promise I made. In the end I drew a simple small church on the top of
my page. I explained that I had been hurt by a legalistic church, and I felt it had put a gap between me and God.
And looking back now I never really recovered from it. I’m attending a beautiful and God driven church now and I
have many opportunities to participate in young adults groups or small groups but I never stuck to it.
When I came home from training camp I was pondering on what had happened the past ten days, the relationships
that were built very quickly, the peace that God had given me and how God brought life to these dry bones. As I was
looking back, a picture came to mind of me running to this tree of God, and still struggling to climb it, then a group of
people picked me up to reach the branches. I realized that this group of people are my squad mates and squad
leaders. They have already lifted me up closer to the branches; I so badly want to touch by accepting me as
who I am,changing my view of God, and helping me trust in God’s love. So thank you! And I cant wait to grow in
Christ with you!
”But I am like an olive tree growing in God’s temple. I trust God’s love forever and ever.” Pslam 52:8
