Bitter Sweet

julietrharrisonphotography.com

A face book friend of mine, Juliet Harrison shot this amazing image in her journey, participating in a commitment to,  A Photo A Day. It is an image of my wounded soul. Yet it holds hope and a future. It is dead and broken. But within the brokeness, there are seeds of hope and a future. 

One of my favorite Bible documentaries is the story of Ruth. Ruth is a story of a bitter and a sweet providence. Ruth lost everything. Her entire family was killed accept for her mother-in-law, Naomi. She had no home to go to and nothing saved for her future. She was left broken and lost. But, Ruth's life displays the radical acts of risk-taking love. She lives out the truths in Micah 6:8 "to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God."

The two widows decide to stick together and travel back to Naomi's homeland. Naomi is bitter and says: "I went away full and the Lord has brought me back empty...The Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me." (Ruth Ch 1) But, as they travel the amazing words in the scripture read, "And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest."   
Harvest. 
The end of the story is amazing and sweet. It has inspired me time and time again. They had to decide, was their providence an anchor or an arrow. They chose arrow.

Life is a winding and troubled road. I have to know that God is for me in all these turns. Even when I think God is against me, I have to trust he is laying a foundation in my life. An unknown trail of rock slides, hairpin turns, not just moving up and forward. In all God's works, his purposes are plotting for my joy and far reaching purposes. It is a sweet and bitter providence.  

Anchor or Arrow:  You decide.