In church yesterday, we were looking at what is called 'The Blob Tree':
Our challenge was to look at where we felt we were spiritually in terms of following after the purposes of God and where we desired to be.
Which one do you feel like?
This is how I felt:
The person desperately grabbing onto, clinging onto the tree…a little way up there, but with so much still left to climb.
Situations in the past six months have seen me worry about finances, wonder about our future family, wish for healing for our current family, wistfully hope for a future job.
My hands raw and blistered from just trying to cling onto this tree, something stronger than me.
Barely surviving. Just about holding on.
My favourite part of my birthday is the cards/messages I receive. The narcissistic side of me wants to know what people think of me. But the sensitive and probably slightly insecure part of me wants, no, needs to be affirmed by words. Needs to feel the love, especially when far from home, that I am cared about, considered and matter in this world.
“Thank you for being you. Someone who refuses to settle for anything less. For fighting the good fight with the right gloves on, and for patiently waiting for the right ring to step into. I’m one of many in your corner. I truly believe in you!”
“It’s been an encouragement to us to watch you really support and love Steve through this rough time! You’ve really been a great role model.”
“I cannot thank you enough for the impact you had on my life.”
“You are the most enthusiastic person we know. You love everything and everyone.”
“Thank you for all your constant words of wisdom! You’ve spoken loads into my life and helped this young man grow!!”
“Although I don’t really know you, I know that you are so gifted in writing and having so much fun with friends and you are so full of love and joy!”
“You challenge and inspire me to be more just by being who you are.”
And my favourite:
“I know that you are in an awkward stage in your life, but I just want to say that it is no mistake that you don’t have a job. I honestly have seen you change more these past few months than over the past few years. You are in just the place God wants you to be in.”
When you look back at the blob tree, at the person I picked, you notice something special:
Beneath the clinging yellow blob, is another blob.
Streching an arm upwards
Looking for a way to get higher
Needing help to get to the next level
And in the frantic desperate clinging of the yellow blob, the green blob notices something that they want, something that they aspire to, something that they want to be a part of.
People are messy. And it isn’t restricted to the peeing, pooping and puking stages of our infant years.
It is unleashed into the emotional turmoil of relationships, the financial craziness of being a “grown-up”, the frustrating tangling of not being the person, not having the character we want to have right now.
But somehow despite that being messy, despite each feeling as if we don’t have all our stuff sorted out, we look to oneanother
For help.
Solace.
Guidance.
Support.
Words of affirmation.
We are not just blobs, fatty messes, with an indistinct form. We are not blobs of ill-defined shapes.
We are blobs, spots that make a mark on this world.
That make a difference.
That in a word, deed, action could profoundly impact someone’s life without even realizing.
That are used by Father God to bring love and hope to others.
He is not ignorant of the miserable mess of our lives.
Rather, He uses us in spite of our messiness.
You, little yellow blob, are important to the tree.
