The sheer number of willows that filled the beautiful country of Ukraine was beyond my wildest dreams. Along with the wide variety of happy flowers on every corner, these sweetly somber trees were some of my most comforting companions on the first month on my Race. Willows have held some pretty deep significance in my heart and mind for the last few years, and I’ve always found them to be incredibly whimsical, invitingly and stunningly, uniquely and profoundly beautiful.
It was like a redeeming kiss from God to be surrounded by them my first month away from home. One day, while spending time under the shade of one of my newfound friends, these are a few of the characteristics that came to mind about how weeping willows are like Jesus.
Both:
are well-aquainted with sorrow and suffering
(“He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.” – Isaiah 53:3-5)
have wide-branching and far-reaching impact
are planted by the Water
have a steadfast and solidly rooted trunk, with leaves/limbs that freely sway under the influence of the breeze (Holy Spirit)
provide comfort and shelter in a way of hiding within itself the one who chooses to come close, like a mother hen covering her chicks under her wing, tucking them into safety
are tall-standing, yet bow low in humility, even reaching down from their stature and high status to touch the earth, making themselves relatable and choosing empathy (Philippians 2:8; Hebrews 5:2)
have many individual parts, making one unified tree
are known as a symbol of wisdom (at least in Pocahontas! 😉
are overlooked by many as being ordinary and mundane (at least it seems they are in Ukraine, since they are so everywhere and so commonly planted), but truly, they are indescribably beautiful once beheld with a long and loving gaze
have endured much trial and sorrow, as years of storms and hardship have caused their roots to grow deeper and their trunks stronger (Hebrews 5:8)
have proven themselves time and again as a faithful friend, unfailing and present in time of need
are gentle to the touch
…and I’m sure so many other things that have not yet come to my mind 🙂
Here are a few pics I snapped of these trees – I couldn’t help myself!
There is one memory in particular which I now always associate with these beautiful beings…Once when I was in the middle of an inner healing session (a time when someone intentionally prayed with me to invite the Lord to speak into areas of hurt and my heart to bring healing and restoration), I pictured myself standing underneath a weeping willow, completely covered and surrounded on all sides under the umbrella of its low-falling branches. I saw Jesus standing directly in front of me, face to face, looking deeply into my eyes. His eyes were filled with tears of compassion, and, even though He wasn’t even speaking, I heard Him say, “I know.” It was a moment of feeling and having no doubt of His complete and utter understanding, an empathy of having walked before me and with me through the hard things I was bringing before Him. It became real to me in that moment that I was never alone in those hard times and that I never experienced them without His tender, compassionate Presence right there with me. He felt all that I was feeling. He carried my grief, my brokenness, my unanswered questions, my confusion, my anger, and the sorrow that remained for months. Suddenly, I had a companion in sadness and suffering.
There have been a few other times when the Lord has brought that picture back to mind when I close my eyes, and I see Him once again, standing right there in front of me, locking His gaze with mine.
One of those times happened right before coming onto the Race. I was in church one morning during worship and felt/pictured the Lord’s nearness sitting to my right, close beside me. Even though we weren’t facing each other, I could see Jesus with the same tear-filled eyes and the same readiness in meeting me with compassion. Again, without speaking a word, I knew He was there to tell me that He was so excited to go on the World Race with me, side by side, to approach people together all throughout the world with the same kind of compassion and tenderness, to weep with those who weep with understanding and an “I know; I understand” spirit.
What an incredible gift from a God who knows me so intimately, to grant me ample opportunity in the past month to sit under so many weeping willows with Jesus, a Man whose eyes are always gently filled with tears of Love.
Some song lyrics that feel oddly fitting to drop in…
“Don’t despise the time it takes for Him to write the Truth upon your heart. It’s worth the wait, it’s worth the time; you’re growing in Love.” – Olivia Buckles
And a simple prayer to top it all off, spurred from past seasons of weeping:
“Lord, I want to weep with You. Share Your heart with me, to break me with what breaks You. I want to ‘feel all the feels’ with You. I want to know You once again as the Man of Sorrows, finding sweetness in suffering with You. Help me to experience the deepest levels of Joy I’ve ever known, while taking me deeper still in carrying Your eyes and Your heart for the ones before me. I love You Lord; help me love You more. Amen.
