This month, we spend three days a week carving a trail out of a South African mountain. It’s pretty strenuous work, but we are in good company. Sweat pouring, machete slinging, root digging, tree sawing, spider smashing*… FUN.
Just this morning, Anna Bonita hacked at a bush of dense thicket, and the metal plate swirled around. Broken. Always looking for a connection with the Father she sighed, “Oh well, God can still use a broken hoe.”
Regrettably, I chimed in, “I know… I was reading Hosea this morning.” (Horrible biblical joke… that’s what happens when I try to be funny…!)
Surely, we are in good spirits. And I, Paige Harris, will now add “trailblazer” to my eclectic resume.
Jokes aside, I have re-discovered a profound connection to nature. Last year, I wrote an ode to a tree I loved and learned from, sitting under her branches. It sounds like a bunch of hippie hoopla, but it’s true. God speaks to me through his creation.
Laboring to unearth all the roots on the trail has me thinking of all the dead foliage still occupying space in my life. The weeds that surface from time to time, strangling life and striving for position.
Body shaming, is one of those weeds. For years, I’ve cut away at the head of those thoughts that emerge. They fade for a season. But they always return, sprouting and advancing again with new seed and vengeance. I realized I haven’t yet removed the root system. If I am to make peace with my body, I need to bear down and cut away all that remains. I don’t know what this looks like… yet. But I have the right tools and I’m ready to turn up the soil. I’m already making progress, asking the Lord to reveal the memories attached to this shame. I still have a long way to go, but I’m moving forward. Amen.
We also spend a good amount of time with a passionate local Church, called Harvest. True to their name, they know who they are in Christ, so they sow and reap good and lasting fruit. We stay at their church plant in a small Children’s village… which flips the common concept of an orphanage on its head and breathes fresh life into permanent, Kingdom families. How? Through rescuing children, rebuilding families, restoring lives, and releasing leaders. For more information: click here!
One day, last week, we went on a home visit with the interns. A young boy from the youth group was hit by a train, just weeks ago. The pastor asked for one of us to share a word, as we entered the house of mourning.
The Holy Spirit nudged me and so I spoke about William, losing my teenage brother to unexpected violence. I talked about my grief process and questioning the Lord’s goodness. I shared a psalm that comforted me in my time of loss. After the short message, we prayed over the family. I lingered behind the group to hug each of the women and kiss their cheeks. The mother (I presume), sitting on the ground near a picture of her son, squeezed me tightly with tears in her eyes. “Today, you have restored my faith,” she said. “Keep sharing your story. I am so very touched.” Just the week before, she told the pastor that she was confident God hated her family, as this was the fourth death in a short time span.
On Sunday, this woman came to church. Dressed to the nines, she sat in the second row. I rushed to her and embraced her. She smiled sweetly and pointed to her baby, which I held for a few precious moments. I returned to my seat in the front with all the children and occasionally glanced over at her. The pastor spoke a great message about being bold and courageous, which gives us the strength to move forward. He invited anyone who wanted to follow Jesus for the first time to take a stand.
And she stood up.
Resurrection life, from the pit of the grave to glories of Heaven. And now a mother will surely be reunited with her child.
That’s a good story.
No doubt, the Lord is here. He continues to invite us to show up to what he is already doing. I am honored to do his work – whether that’s planting the seed, watering, reaping, or pruning.
Now back to my garden… it needs some work. I must keep my hands on the shovel and not look back. Beating swords into plowshares.
What needs to be uprooted in your life, so that you can bear healthy, abiding fruit?
(Update: I have decided to continue making video logs for each month! The South Africa video is in the works and will be posted at the end of the month.)
