I have prickles and sharp edges. I feel exposed in the sun. When I dance too close to the light my back burns.
I wish for leaves, for something to cover myself with.
If you come too close, I'll stab you.
I am a desert dweller, always thirsty, always waiting for water, for rain.
You could believe everything about me is too hard, too sharp, too dry.
You would be right.
Until you're not.
Until the God of Spiked Things reaches out His arm of audacious grace and makes a cactus flower. Until He takes a barren place and makes it beautiful.
There is no other reason I am lovable. There is no other reason for a flowering cactus.
With Him all things are possible, and He makes all things new. He is the hope in the desert.
joining Emily for Imperfect Prose who happened to be talking about desert things today too. :)
Look at you--writing from the point of view of a cactus!
ReplyDeleteI once heard someone talk about the differences between the way children and adults categorize things. Show an adult a picture of a banana, and he/she will likely put it in the same category as an apple. Show a kid a banana, and he/she will probably decide that it belongs in a category with monkeys. I told my friend Ethel that story, and she said she'd probably put the banana with the monkey too.
Anyway. For some reason, in my reading this week,I keep returning to the desert. I think God is repeating himself to me again, like I'm supposed to be learning something. Or something.
I think I'll go eat a banana.
this. comment. is hilarious. LOVE it Nanc!
Deletesmiles...what a beautiful truth...there is def beauty even in the most prickly...and shattered....even among the ashes...i can be a bit prickly at times as well...smiles.
ReplyDeletethe rhythm of this is beautiful enough. add to that the beauty of your words, and you have some amazing poetry :-) love it. i am such a thinker of word pictures. and this brought to mind lots of visual images. and ended on an encouraging note.
ReplyDeletethanks so much. really. loved every bit of it.
steph
Such a great post! Thank you for the link as well, I really did enjoy her blog and love this Imperfect Prose link up!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad! I hope you link up next week Serena. You'd be a good fit!
Deletei love this! making things that are from those which are not--what a picture of creation, redemption, and great grace.
ReplyDeleteYour honesty is refreshing.
ReplyDeleteI love your "here I am, until I'm not" point of view.
Beautiful.
Wow, I love your prose, girl! I am a cacti, with you!
ReplyDeleteLord have mercy, Girl. One minute you're drowning; the next you're dry as the desert. My sad little brain can hardly keep up. What if, one day, I can't find you? The good news is: I love you, wherever you are. (Great post, as usual.)
ReplyDeleteLast week it rained, this week it was 93! What can I say?
Delete"Until He takes a barren place and makes it beautiful." Amen and amen.
ReplyDeletewell, i think you nailed the desert theme with this one. turns out your dress is slightly more beautiful than mine... but so long as you're my friend that's all i care about :) lovely write friend. xo
ReplyDeletethorns and prickles can be beautiful too
ReplyDeleteThis is lovely. I adore the comparisons. I needed this today. Thank you : )
ReplyDeleteStunningly beautiful and true. Like you.
ReplyDeleteThis read like a poem to me, so lovely!
ReplyDelete"Until the God of Spiked Things reaches out His arm of audacious grace and makes a cactus flower. Until He takes a barren place and makes it beautiful."
ReplyDeleteThis made me tear up. In a good way. :)
Oh, I just love this! From the point of view, to the God of Spiked Things, I just loved this! Perhaps it's because I identify with the cactus? Thank you!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, as always!
ReplyDeleteYou are perfectly made.
ReplyDeleteJust perfect.
I love this analogy. The cacti around here in Texas are blooming - gorgeous yellow blossoms. I hadn't thought of it in just the is way - but it's true - only the Father can take something that seems to have no redeeming qualities and make something beautiful!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful....I am all elbows to ribs and sharp pieces too.
ReplyDeleteThankful with you!
i think this is my most favorite thing ever. ever. i love you.
ReplyDeleteto bloom in the dry places. to turn soft where there is still the hard. just lovely. really, really beautiful descriptions. i find myself here with you.
ReplyDeleteCacti everywhere should be thanking God above for writing such beautiful words on their behalf.
ReplyDeletelove love love
ReplyDeleteand you.