The man and Jesus

Dearest Reader,
   The third journal of the man...


   I continued to watch what was going on last night as I tried to sleep.

   After a time of you both sitting and sharing silently in our circle that had become a warm safe place, the man then lay down alongside the log.  You slipped down from sitting atop the log to rest on the ground near his head with your back resting against the old wood, your arms spread along it.

   After (an indecipherable amount) of time I came around the log to gaze at this man and You.  I knew immediately I wanted to wash and anoint this man's feet.  You placed Your hand gently on his shoulder which I knew within let him sleep very deeply.  The water that ran over his feet was warm and restoring.  With utmost care I washed rinsed dried and massaged oil into his skin, tendons and muscle.  I wondered if I might do more but it became clear that this was all that was needed for now.
A distinct change was in the air when he finally awoke.  I watched him engage with You over a small meal, laughter even rang out a time or two.  The longer you two spend together the more altered the man seems... huh.

   I presently lay down on my back in the center of the circle literally soaking in the contentment of being here, awash in awe of what I have witnessed and been a part of (even though peripherally it was deeply and significantly moving for me.) With eyes closed I look around with all my senses and just love.
 
   You are so right here.

a man comes to the clearing in the woods

Dearest Reader,
   I forgot to introduce my last post which has now connected to this one.  When you sit with Jesus some pretty mind blowing things can happen. I invite you to join us...

I'm here!  Thanks for calling and sitting with me through my reading.

Haha no problem

Can we sit in the woods again?

Of course Little One.

   I close my eyes and breathe in deeply holding onto it; paying attention.  It is still cool and that crispness has a scent somehow.  Not everything has thawed yet but enough has that I can smell the dark earth and last fall's leaves being picked up by the air that stirs with every movement we make.  It smells like hope to me.  Like new growth.     I suddenly open my eyes!

Oh! Who needs to be here?

Your chuckle softly at me.  I return Your smile and know... well hear someone walking up to us. This is new!  I can hardly keep my curiosity in check.  Who is it?  I murmur almost inaudibly.  
   I stand immediately as they approach and I reach out to grasp both of his hands.  I welcome him with a smile I cannot hold back and excitedly turn to lead him to Your side.  As I turn I see that You have stood too and already have Your arms out to receive and pour into, as You always do.  I sit down on a log and let you both have some time together.  Time temporarily ceases to exist for me (I secretly love this).  I see that you too have sat down on a log with your backs to me.  You both are looking beyond the circle into the woods that seem to have no end.

Really?

   I know what I am to do.  I kneel down behind you both and begin to pray... for Your love, Your connection, Your sweet smell to inundate absolutely everything for this man.  May even creation radiate these truths, this reality...

   I notice some little things now... he is more roughly dressed than I thought.  His coat is threadbare in a few spots, his hair is dirty as his hands.  He is barefoot and his feet look not only cold and red but almost raw.  Besides that initial hug there has been no physical contact.  I know You have the perfect timing and I wait to see it.  I haven't seen any sharing happening except in your gazing.  The temperature of this circle has drastically changed however.  The earth I now sit on is not cold at all.

   In fact it is comfortable and dry.

meeting in the clearing

Hey...

'Bout time.  :)

I know right?  I was wondering if You might want to go somewhere?

Always.  Let's sit here in this small clearing.

   I look around us, the trees tower at dizzying heights and sway slightly as they mingle with the winds that are presently gossiping only at the tops of these giant guardians.  In the crisp air that is heavy with the earthy scents of these woods I see our breath puff out as we take it all in.  Being awed by the significant sizes that dwarf us while we too tower over a minuscule world beneath our feet... there is no end of wonder.  As our eyes momentarily lock, we experience the thrill of sharing what feels like a holy moment of delight between us, a warmth surges up and spreads from the depths of my soul.  You reach over sliding Your finger along my cheek while I gladly drown in the life and love that spills over in Your look.  We join hands and move to sit down here with a fallen log as a backrest.  In fact, we can lean back and look up at the small circle of sky, watching clouds and color drift by.

Push me to sell it all.

It's not a matter of being pushed Little One.

No I suppose not...

And it's not something you eventually get to either... it's in the right now, the small and regular everyday, which leads surprisingly to bigger and bigger things without the conscious decisions that are often fraught with degrees of narcissism.  Like being here in the rapture of creation's beauty ... you didn't make these trees grow or create this intricate blend of relationships but you did do this... you chose to come.  To look and see. To sit and absorb.  We are enjoying being a part of something so beyond what you can fathom and yet you felt the holiness of it.

Nice.  This blends nicely with other realizations like the better way to look at my past and the reminder once again that it is not about me.

I sit up crossing my legs so I can just sit and watch You.  My heart aches again it is so so full.
Kind of how when You love Me You are actually loving others around me.  I laugh in the relationship of it all.  Your eyes crinkle as Your smile stretches lighting up Your face.