Emblems

River: Rivers can flow both lazily or hurriedly. They can move almost without detection from the human eye or move over immediately noticeable rapids with white foam and loud rushing. I am a person who usually “goes with the flow,” who goes through life accepting either smooth flowing or bumpy rushing as they come. Sometimes I don’t ride the river but am the river, moving slowly or energetically. I’m headed somewhere, to the end of my life, to my outlet into a greater ocean.

Standing on the edge of a cliff with a parachute: I’m going to graduate in May, and I have no definite plans yet for next year. There are many possibilities, just not any answers. I’ve come to the edge of a cliff, ready and willing to BASE jump with my parachute. I’m just waiting for the signal to go, the answer back from graduate school applications (after I actually fill those out...), before I step off the stone. I could land in a million different spots but am aiming for a general area. My landing might be bumpy or painful. I might not land near the target area at all. But I’m graduating. I have to jump.

Bread: Christ is the bread of life. As a Christian, I am called to be as Christ-like as I can. So I am striving for breadhood? Yes. The yeast I sprinkle on my spiritual life sometimes produces good, light bread and sometimes produces hard, dense bread that failed to rise. My good bread, my resolve to be spiritually steadfast, molds quickly in open air, and I must bake again. And again. I am also the bread, not the baker. I am dough, waiting for God to sprinkle good yeast so that I may work for his kingdom.

Rubber band: I’m tired. I’m stretched. After being stretch and pulled by trying to hold my schedule together, I’ll come to a time of rest. My rubber band self will relax and return to her original shape. Although stretching and pulling and holding things together put stress on the rubber band, the rubber is made to do this.

Seed: Like I wait for God to sprinkle yeast, I also wait for him to scatter seed. Seeds are opportunities for relationships, growth, new ideas, a job, a child. I must be prepared ground. The Holy Spirit waters. I add fertilizer, too. Sometimes the seeds lie dormant for a long time. Sometimes they spring up almost immediately. My life is the garden.