The Little One stands in the middle of a sidewalk jammed with people; all in a hurry and bumping into her as if she weren’t there. Finding the next gate to unlock is proving quite the challenge. Who knew buildings could be so imposing or that this tiny purple flower at her feet could displace what had to be thousands of pounds of concrete to just pop up and bloom. The contrast between hard concrete sidewalks and buildings and the tiny fragile plant is striking. Such resilience this little flower has, how brave it is to bloom even though being trampled under uncaring feet is almost a certainty.

The Little One marvels at the light glistening around this tiny living thing in the midst of such noise and movement. How is it no one seems to notice that little shimmering light? The Little One hears a companion, another Keeper of the Light, call to her wanting to know why she isn’t headed in that direction as a passerby abruptly shoves the Little One out of their own path. A little red cloud of frustration puffs out of the Little One’s nostrils. It seems everyone is only concerned with progress on their own path.

Another friend on the opposite side of the wide street, gridlocked with irate drivers honking and gesturing at each other, waves for the Little One come over. How can her friend not see that she cannot cross the snarling traffic at this moment? The Little One is overwhelmed at the complexity of still needing to find this gate. It’s so much easier to find them in the quiet of the Open Land! This place with people constantly pushing and pulling and requiring attention begins to make the Little One dizzy. Everyone seems to think they have the best route to take but who is trustworthy?

Grimy, oozing tentacles of Despair and Perceived Failure are quick to creep out of a sewer cap and wrap around her ankles. Paralyzed with indecision the cacophony of noise overwhelms the Little One. The light that is usually so effervescent around her becomes more concentrated and closer to her body, almost as if it were trying to shield her. Her mind is literally spinning, how is she supposed to follow through with so many vying for this or that? How is she supposed to keep looking for the gate in this messy realm and still find joy in the small things? She doesn’t even have time to find an important gate at the moment much less enjoy things like tiny flowers; she’s too busy trying not to get pushed in front of an oncoming bus! How did this all happen so fast?

Breathing deep she willed her thoughts to re-center on truth even though every part of her being fought back with negative or hopeless comments. Re-centering she reminds herself of the truth The Great Three sing over her constantly and a sort of bubble encompasses the Little One right there on the bustling sidewalk. She doesn’t notice the bubble severs the tentacles of Despair and Perceived Failure, she didn’t even ask for them to be removed. All the Little One is focused on is the sheer magnitude and goodness of The Great Three.

Holding a mental picture of their paradoxical fierceness and tenderness in her mind she chooses to remember they never leave her side – even though she still feels alone. She reminds herself They do things very differently than she does and if she was supposed to be somewhere else to find the gate she would have been. She reminds herself of who They say she is; loved completely- no matter what, special, important to this particular time and place, unique because no one has or will emit the type of light she emits. She smiles because it has nothing to do with any good or bad thing she has done, it’s all because of the immeasurable goodness and love of The Three.

Opening her eyes, the busy sidewalk is now a bit fuzzy and the sound is muffled because of this insulating greenish bubble. Plopping down next to the little flower the Little One decides that right here on this crammed sidewalk is the perfect place to rest in The Three’s bubble. Where else would you rest the best except in chaos?! Resting in a fragrant blooming meadow is great but chaos is really where resting with Them feels the best because that’s when it’s needed most.

Laughing to herself she feels silly because The Three never left her, she had just not been paying attention to where They were. Sitting next to the wisp of a flower she absorbs the optimism and joy the flower shares – infused by The Great Three to encourage tired travelers like her. For now she just breathes. She couldn’t be happier to let Them decide the details of the next steps on this crazy sidewalk!

The forever life They promise and all its wild adventures and escapades are for now, not someday when this realm is traded permanently for the other! Moments of rest may only be the length of a deep breath before continuing on. re-centered on The Great Three, They will take care of the rest.

Titus 1:2 We rest in this hope we’ve been given—the hope that we will live forever with our God—the hope that He proclaimed ages and ages ago (even before time began). And our God is no liar; He is not even capable of uttering lies.

1 John 4:16 (The Voice) We have experienced and we have entrusted our lives to the love of God in us. God is love. Anyone who lives faithfully in love also lives faithfully in God, and God lives in him.

Isaiah 60:1 (The Voice) Arise, shine, for your light has broken through! The Eternal One’s brilliance has dawned upon you.