The Beautiful Tree of Open Door...

Even before Jan announced her leaving, I kept thinking (lately) of Open Door as the tree in the poem that I quoted on my blog. Now, with her leaving, it is stronger than ever to me.

I see the "tree" of Open Door being shaken in the winds of change. There are many seeds being flung from it... seeds that are being sent off to grow new trees in different parts of the Garden, perhaps.

I wonder if it is like these seeds have reached a certain level of ripeness. The Master has decided to plant them elsewhere... some are falling close to the trunk of the original tree... some will stay and grow in the same soil, supporting the existing/emerging system... the others are being sent to begin or support other systems.

I also feel that the change is making way for new seeds to mature and grow...

Lord, help us to hang on loosely and to wait for You. Help us to not hurt any tender shoots in our anxiety... help us to send with blessing those that are riding Your Winds. May we open wide our wings...

"Wind and Spirit"
by Chris Rice
Past the Edges (cd)

I hear a sound and turn to see a new direction on that rusty weather vane...
Suddenly the dead brown leaves are stirred to scratch their circle dances down the lane...
And now the sturdy oaks start clappin' with the last few stubborn leaves that won't let go...
I can hear old Glory snappin' and her tattered robe now clangin' against the pole...
And my breath is snatched away,
And a chill runs up my spine,
Seems like somethin's on the way,
So I look up to the sky,
I look up to the sky and...

*From the corners of creation,
Comes the Father's Holy Breath,
Ridin' on a storm with tender fierceness,
Stirring my soul to Holiness,
Stirring my soul to Holiness.

I see the lifeless dust now resurrected
Swirlin' up against my windowpane,
And carried cross the distance comes the long awaited frangrances of earth and rain,
And out across the amber fields
The slender grasses bend and bow and kiss the ground
In them I see the beauty of the souls who let the Spirit lay them down
And it takes my breath away,
Tear comes to my eye
feels like somethin's on the way
So I look up to the sky
I look up to the sky and...*

And like a mighty wind blows with a force I can not see,
I will open wide my wings,
Open wide my wings,
I will open wide my wings and let the Spirit carry me...*

I hear a sound and turn to see a new direction on that rusty weather vane...