RPD 20 June 2007 Writing RPDs

Sitting in front of the computer today I asked myself:
What do I want to write?
What do you want to know about?
What does God want me to write?

The last couple of weeks have been awesome. The challenge to focus all of life upon Jesus has taken on a new meaning. The reality of letting my life be ‘broken’, be out of my control, means that it has to be in God’s control, it has to be Him who works through me – and only then may I be useful in His Kingdom.
A story I learned long ago in High School was impressed upon my heart so I share it with you now – it’s a long one – but worth it.

Bamboo
An Indian legend
Once upon a time in the heart of the Western Kingdom, lay a beautiful garden. And there in the cool of the day was the master of the garden who went for a walk. Of all the dwellers of the garden, the most beautiful and beloved was a gracious and noble Bamboo.
Often when Wind came to revel in the garden, Bamboo would throw aside his dignity. He would dance and sway merrily, tossing and leaping and bowing in joyous abandon...
Year after year, Bamboo grew ever more beautiful and gracious. He was conscious of his master's love and watchful delight, yet he was modest and in all things gentle. He would lead the great dance of the garden which most delighted his master's heart....
One day the master himself drew near to look at his Bamboo with eyes of expectant curiosity. And Bamboo, in a passion of love, bowed his great head to the ground in joyful greeting.
The master spoke: "Bamboo, I would use you"
Bamboo flung his head to the sky in utter delight. The day of days had been growing hour by hour, the day in which he would find his completion and destiny! His voice came low:
"Master, I am ready, use me as you want."
"Bamboo", the master's voice was grave, "I would be obliged to take you and cut you down."
A trembling of great horror shook Bamboo.
"Cut …me…down? Me whom you, master, have made the most beautiful in your whole garden? Cut me down, ah, not that, not that. Use me for your joy, oh master, but don't cut me down."
"Beloved Bamboo," the master's voice grew graver yet. "If I do not cut you down then I cannot use you."
The garden grew still. Wind held her breath. Bamboo slowly bent his proud and glorious head. There came a whisper.
"Master, if you cannot use me unless you cut me down, then do your will and cut."
"Bamboo, beloved Bamboo, I would cut your leaves and branches from you also."
"Master, master, spare me. Cut me down and lay my beauty in the dust, but why would you take from me my leaves and branches also?"
"Bamboo alas! If I do not cut them away, I cannot use you."
The sun hid her face. A listening butterfly glided fearfully away. Bamboo shivered in terrible expectancy, whispering low.
"Master, cut away."
"Bamboo, Bamboo, I would divide you in two and cut out your heart, for if I do not cut so, I cannot use you."
"Master, master, then cut and divide."
So the master of the garden took Bamboo and cut him down and hacked off his branches and stripped off his leaves and divided him in two and cut out his heart, and lifting him gently, carried him to where there was a spring of fresh, sparkling water in the midst of the master's dry fields. Then putting down one end of broken Bamboo into the spring and the other end into the water channel in his field, the master tenderly laid down his beloved Bamboo. The spring sang a welcome. The clear sparkling water raced joyously down the channel of Bamboo's torn body into the waiting fields…
Then the rice was planted and the days went by. The shoots grew. The harvest came.
On that day, Bamboo, once so glorious in his stately beauty, was yet more glorious in his brokenness and humility.
For in his beauty he was life abundant. But in his brokenness he became a channel of abundant life to his master's world.
That story came from the following website: http://www.smnda.org/msola_eng/search_for_god/cartoons_spi/cartoons_spi....
Similar stories I found here http://www.inthebeloved.org/bamboo.htm and here
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2065/is_n4_v49/ai_20150887

Prayer and Praise:

• Jesus
• That my eyes would be firmly fixed on Jesus
• That every day I will live according to His plan for me

Thanks to:

• The Murphys of Eureka – for the DVDs and just for you. Thanks!

Love Jono
Keep Looking Up

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