After The Work

Imagine a child climbing a tree as they are wont to do; finding a foothold, stepping up to grab the first big branch, and making their way up the tree. Depending upon age and circumstance, the child may get scared by the height. Sometimes when grabbing for a branch, they can get themselves stuck, afraid to go up or go down. Imagine the child holding onto a branch with their arms and legs, upside down, unable to move any further.

Sometimes we can feel life is this way. We work and strive to accomplish our goals. Perhaps we have done our research and find ourselves wrong. Maybe we having put in much forethought. Either way there are times we can get stuck, not knowing what to do next, unable to make a change. We hate to admit it, but we may need some assistance getting further or getting down to find another tree.

A child calls for aid without hesitation. A child will freeze in fear, perhaps be embarrassed to be stuck in such a way. As adults, we are responsible and can deduce from this we have to help ourselves as no one will be there to show us the way. We can learn from the child in that there is no shame in asking for help, asking someone we trust to show us the next handhold or a boost towards the next branch. Adults are not wont to admit we need help, even though we are called “God’s children”.

There are times in life we need rescue and there are times in life we need to be shown the next step towards our goal. Where do we turn? Elijah was in the wilderness, distraught by the state of his Land, being fed by the ravens. He found that God supported him and supplied his needs while he was stuck. He had to let go and allow a solution to come to him. He could not manifest manna on the ground, or cause food to appear before him. He needed to depend upon God to survive in a real, tangible way.

What an adult can sometimes fail to see is that help comes from letting go of the fear or indecision that can paralyze us in life. Fear is the mind slayer, hindering our mind from reason. When a child calls for aid, an adult will call out “It is ok, just let go and I will catch you.” As adults, we too are beckoned to “let go” and fall into the arms of God. Ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. God will provide direction, protection, and sustenance when we swallow our pride and surrender. The next handhold will become apparent when our mind is clear and our hearts are at rest.