The Little One crouched down carefully unfolding the map. Early glittering light of day kissed the frozen earth. Icy blades of grass gleamed blue in the early light. The landscape looked like a living kaleidoscope as the pale sun rose higher. The Little One marveled at the visible puff of air from her nostrils, in the cold is the only time to see that mystery of breath making life possible! A miracle every time…

Mesmerized by the slowly dissipating cloud of her breath she focused on the map and traced with her finger the path she had taken so far. As she lingered over different stops and trails along the way a highlight reel of sorts appeared in a cinematic semi-transparent overlay replaying bits of that time in those places. The Little One was captivated as she is the star in her very own “live movie.”  Like any good movie as she traced her finger on the map some places broke her heart while others brought a smile. Loss was present on many places of the map; lost time, relationships that once were but are no more, perhaps missed opportunity and loved ones taken back to the Real Realm. The Little One felt heat on her shoulders as tears formed in her eyes. She heard the tinkling sound of The Wind speaking in its wind chime tone. Release swept over The Little One as tears fell and then froze mid-air on their way to the ground. Such a strange feeling the cold all around yet this intense warmth on her shoulders slowly releasing the grief. She watched as The Wind gathered her many frozen tears in front of her. Swiping at the last few threatening, the Little One strained to hear the whisper of The Wind, “Shhh Little One, just give me your tears…” The Little One squeezed her eyes shut and the last three tears hung in the air as The Wind collected them.

The crunch of frozen footsteps interrupted the quiet moment but there was no fear as The Little One sensed it was The Maker and her Brother. Her Brother took her hand and moved her finger along the map again stopping at key stops and paths again. This time pleasure and humble pride rose in the Little One as she watched the scenes of hard fought victories replayed with The Three and her family both in this realm and the Real Realm all playing their vital roles. Tears from deep belly laughter rolled down all of their cheeks as they witnessed moments of slap-stick comedy that can only happen in day to day life. Some experiences are more outrageous than fiction! As her finger nears the edge of the map the Little One begins to feel restless and discontent. Looking at The Three, and really having to just sense where The Wind was; “Why am I not to another map yet? I’ve worked really hard just to get here and I thought I would be so much further by now. What have I done wrong? Is it all those places where I lost something? Did I miss a trail somewhere?”

Black cracks of Despair and Failure quietly rose to the surface of the earth at the Little One’s feet. Her Brother quickly stepped in front of her and commanded her full attention; “Look at your map again Little One.” As the Little One looked at the map, any of the places she had seen loss were now covered with her frozen tears. The map was swept up into the air and hovered before the Little One as the black cracks dissipated under the powerful presence of her Brother. “Look closely Little One, things are rarely as they seem.” The Maker rumbled in a loving tone. The Little One looked through the frozen tear like a lens and different scenes appeared. The “losses” were still there but it was as though there was another world operating in that semi-transparent background. Lost relationships while rightfully mourned also brought healing and hope in ways and to people she had never seen. Loved ones in the Real Realm were really not far at all and even working on in that realm for their Cause. Time that had seemed wasted was somehow rewound but appearing at points further along on the map simultaneously. Confused she looked at The Three, “How can that happen? It makes no sense that time is somehow transferred AND rewound?! And how is it I didn’t see any of this other stuff in those places?!” The Wind tinkled out a merry laugh “What fun would it be Little One if you knew everything?” Her Brother chuckled at the stubborn look on The Little One’s face, “Little One, what have you learned on this particular map?”

Still trying to make any sense of what she’d just seen the Little One paused before answering. “I’ve learned not to look at what I see now!” The Maker came in close and smiled “You remember that now and hang on to that. Know though that your Enemy will do everything they can to make it seem that reality is real.” The Little One rolled her eyes and laughed, “Well that helps clear up my confusion thanks!” Her Brother stepped forward and all four beings leaned into a tight huddle as her Brother pulled from behind his back a piece of rolled up and sealed paper. Excitement vibrated through the Little One “My new map!” she shouted. The Wind had rolled up the other map and it now hovered next to the new map being held out by her Brother, “Only your unique fingerprint can open this map Little One, it is for you and no one else. Only you can walk these paths. Are you willing to let the old map go because you cannot revisit those places any more.” The Little One thought of how far she’d come and all she’d learned. She knew now after this last map that each map would be different and she would see the Three always, but in different ways at each place on a map. They had promised they would never leave her, and they proved true because even when she hadn’t seen Them in the background they had been there.

Reaching out she grasped the new map and a shower of sparks erupted as the seal broke off and the first map disappeared. “Where did it go?” she asked with wide eyes. The Maker touched her shoulder and fire sprang up at her feet “I have a whole library of scrolls and maps dedicated just to you Little One, nothing is lost and nothing is wasted. Let’s open this new map and see where your story takes us. We love the journey but this is my favorite part…” The Little one paused from unrolling her map as the world was suddenly kissed with giant intricately patterned snowflakes falling. The Little One could see her breath again even though the earth around her feet was still aflame. The Wind rushed around her causing the snow to dance and the flames to rise. As the Little One opened her mouth to laugh The Wind, the true Breath, rushed in and through the Little One. She laughed all the harder because now she could see the Breath coming in and going out. “I learn something new about you Three all the time…” she marveled at what she’d experienced all while wondering what else she would discover about The Three on this new map.

Happy New Year to you all, may this coming year see the harvest for every seed you’ve sown, joy unspeakable, exciting revelations and provision before it is necessary.

Isaiah 61:1-4 – The Voice (VOICE) (The Bold words below are my own addition)

1 The Spirit of the Lord, the Eternal, is on me (You).
The Lord has appointed me (You) for a special purpose.
He has anointed me (You) to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me (You) to repair broken hearts,
And to declare to those who are held captive and bound in prison,
“Be free from your imprisonment!”
2 He has sent me(You) to announce the year of jubilee, the season of the Eternal’s favor:
for our enemies it will be a day of God’s wrath;
For those who mourn it will be a time of comfort.
3 As for those who grieve over Zion,
God has sent me to give them a beautiful crown in exchange for ashes,
To anoint them with gladness instead of sorrow,
to wrap them in victory, joy, and praise instead of depression and sadness.
People will call them magnificent, like great towering trees
standing for what is right.
They stand to the glory of the Eternal
who planted them.