Divine Imagery
g e n e j u a r e z
insightful articles by gifted writer gene juarez, whose unique views on life reveal god's deeper nature
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(A story of discovering understanding of our lives' destinies)
As I stood on the sandy shore of the beach on the Isle of ‘Retirement’, I gazed out to the bay where there were boats taking people across the ocean’s expanse to an unseen destination. There was a ‘Sailboat’ cruising serenely across the waves, majestic and unperturbed by all other activity. I asked the Lord if---now that I’m retired---will my life be like that majestic swan? He replied “No”, explaining that I was too much a warrior. Therefore I said, “Then let me be like a PT 109 speedboat so that I could take more people faster.” Yet again, the answer was “No. You can’t take that many in a speedboat.” Then my eyes shifted to the to the ‘Cruise Liner’ getting ready to depart from the dock. I asked again, “Am I to be a Cruise Liner like that one?” His voice was sad, yet there was a twinkle in His eyes as He directed me to look again at the massive Liner carrying those many souls. As my eyes surveyed the scene, I could now see a rugged little ‘tug boat’ huffing and puffing as it maneuvered the great ship safely away from the dock and into deep waters. Again He spoke. “Your destiny is to be a spiritual ‘tug boat’, helping to launch many souls into their ministerial destinies.” Then I truly understood the Master’s assignment for my life. (Apostle Paul spoke of this Godly entrustment in his letter to the church of Corinth---which he helped to ‘launch’) “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.” (1 Cor.3:5)
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(A story of hope and encouragement for kindred branches)
Michael the branch woke up one day full of despair and hopelessness. After a successful life as a productive branch of a fruit tree, the gardener's pruning knife had separated him from his life source of sap and he had endured the hot summer months on the ground. His once beautiful body was now dried, withered, and seemingly useless. "What's the use?" he reasoned. "It's all over! I can't even be used as a piece of furniture or even as a toothpick. I'll never amount to anything!" And with that he gave up his last gasp of life. Time passed uneventfully until one day his dried-out branch body was grasped by a hopeless widow who was a mother gathering dried branches in order to build a fire so she may cook a final meal for herself and her son. Her terminal intentions were redirected by a prophet who imparted purpose, eternal provision, revival of a dead son, and became memorialized in Scripture with all glory given to God. (1 Kings 17:8-24) Now, Michael the branch’s conclusions about his own destiny are seen to be premature and grossly too small. The ultimate release of the pent up and abiding forces of light and heat for the larger story can now be appreciated as a wonder of creation. May kindred ‘branches’ take heart and be inspired with the knowledge and understanding of the magnificence of Creation and Creator. (John 15:5 “I am the Vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”) (Imagery reflections as I experienced the departure of my beloved wife)
I’m feeling a little drowsy, yet I see the train station through my window. A magnificent train, powered by a gigantic steam locomotive, has just arrived in all its glory---it must be the 'Express' bound for the same destination that my sweetheart and I headed to on the 'Local' that makes many more stops along the way to the place called “HEALING”. Memories come flooding forth of times when my father took me on train rides and at train stops much like the one I am now observing. We would deboard and go for walks to stretch our legs or buy a goodie. One time we wandered too far and the train was preparing to leave without us. Luckily, we were at the front of the train and my dad was able to catch the eye of the train engineer and we were able to reboard. I turn from the window to tell her about my remembrances --- but she isn’t there. With a powerful burst of energy, steam and smoke the 'Express' charges forward and I can see those passengers moving away --- and now I see her with them!!! Somehow I know she is desperate to reach our destination quickly because of her pain, but also that she would be waiting for me there when the 'Local' arrives. I just thought we had more time, but she had been hiding her failing health too well. I also suspect that boarding the 'Express' is by invitation only. {Psalm 90:10/ "The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of strength they are eighty years, yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away."} Welcome to my blog where I am privileged to share some thoughts with you from time to time. These thoughts are somewhat like paint-by-number pictures---only I may have already partially provided my own ‘coloring’. Not to worry. Feel free to provide your own colors. After all, the picture/thoughts are free for the taking and not copyright protected. Still, please handle them gently. Though they merely cost you time and energy, they cost me a lifetime’s worth of experiences and insights. For indeed, this blog flows out of God’s destiny within me.
So use your imagination to color as you will---blue, green, interesting, boring, lonely, ignored, rejected, glorious, victorious, and all points in between. However, do be gentle and cautious. These delicacies, once tasted, might render you ‘never the same’. One other caution: For those whom you deem to color ‘rejected/discarded’, please leave them in a place where you may later reevaluate their color with additional merciful light from your soul. Together we shall be like Kingly discoverers (Prov 25:2). May my keyboard be as a prepared writer (Ps.45:1b, Prov 25:11). And when we find ‘honey’, let’s not eat too fast or too much (Prov.25:16). My first thought/ picture for next time will be about "boats". As yet there is only one other. I can scarcely wait to see what will be written (Ps.45:1a). |
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August 2022
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