Rabbits and Revelations

Behind the restless wind, the frogs’ chorus sounded distant.  They were more in tune than when they first came from their winter’s sleep, than when she the lifepoetry-daughter said they were just starting their symphony practice and were still woefully out of tune.  And out in that windy midnight the wild rabbits ate all the heads off my reaching, curling sugar-snap peas.

The ones I’d planted out in sinking, soaking mud, one at a time for more than a hundred, and knew they’d probably not survive.  The ones I was ecstatic about when they resolutely poked their heads through the mud and decided to make a run for it up the new trellis husband and son had labored over before the weather turned garden-worthy.   The ones I delighted in as they sprang little tendrils toward the fence – how did they know where to reach?  Now stubs mowed evenly across. 

I think I’ll send every one of our Beatrice Potter books to the Goodwill.  And I don’t care that Peter left his best blue jacket.  Just for once, a garden that will grow, please?  And enough sunbreak to turn a blue day to gold…too much to ask?

Which is, of course, why Ann’s words were so convicting:

“and there aren’t wolves, trouble, kids, hatred, debts, messes, betrayal, teenagers, disease, lack, hard times, untruths, diagnoses, or disappointments that can possibly separate you from the love of God.  Nothing can separate you from Him.

So the Worst Case Scenario?  Is only the scenario of not wanting Christ the most.

So the Worst Case Scenario—is only a possible scenario if you want something more than Christ.

If you want Christ the most—there is no worst case scenario.  Live and He’s using everything to shape you more into Christ and abundant life in Him.

Die and you have eternal life in Him.

Abundant life versus eternal life—it’s impossible to lose!...

Believe just this moment that everything is being transfigured for His glory.  Every step toward something beautiful already accomplishes something beautiful.  Beauty and joy are found in every overcoming along the way.

Only those who believe in the beautiful—can collaborate in the miraculous.”

--Ann Voskamp, A Holy Experience, May 2, 2012

So sure, my little sugar-snap-pea loss is nothing-at-all in light of the severe trials that dear friends are traveling through right this moment, that even today I’ve been praying over and pondering for half a dozen beloved ones.  But surely it set my day sideways to see those little stubs and imagine their midnight feast and Farmer MacGregor did not become apoplectic for nothing.  I’m just supposing this is one of those sneaky little count-it-all joy moments that wouldn’t even make it onto the radar of “Trials” except that I let it wreck my morning and my joy.

“She who is faithful in the little things…”