It's been eight years since the last time I viewed this writing of mine, a lot has happened in my life since then, I am no longer in ministry, I am a father to two beautiful girls, and I still desire to change peoples lives for the Kingdom.
Joy,heartache, and heartbreak have entered and exited my life since the day a young 24 year old Joe Bruce dared to whisper a dream to the world in the form of writing. I've read it over and over again, being reminded about whispered dreams that have thrived, died, and changed over time. God is still working in me, chipping away and molding me to be who he created and I am finally accepting it. I hope this finds you well and reminds you of the dreams and desires that God has whispered to your heart.
The boy stood in the bright green forest breathing in the smells of spring and early summer. Blonde hair blowing, from the wind that rushes through the trees. At first glance one would think his hair was white but upon further inspection a person could see that the hair was bleached from being outside all day and body kissed by the sun. Suddenly the boy moves in a full out sprint darting through the trees nimbly and swiftly. A bark echoes behind him as his dog Clyde rushes to catch up. Clyde quickly passes the boy as they both approach the creek in a full run. The boy slows down for he knows that danger lurks in the brush around the creek or in the grass near the water's edge. His eyes do a quick scan for the deadly cottonmouth snake that would probably kill him if he was bitten for he was at least two miles away from help. The sound of birds drift around him as he walks down to the bank for a quick sip of the cold water that the creek produces. Shirtless and barefoot he bends down on hands and knees and drinks deeply. He's been here countless times, a refuge from the taunting of his older brother and drunk rages of his mother. This is a place of solace that has almost a magical quality to it. Almost as if sprites and magical creatures would gather here for some feast in moonlight at night, dancing and making music. The boy wades slowly into the ice cold water enjoying the feeling of the current pulling on his legs. Dark hazel eyes rest on the spot where he is heading, the place that quickens his heart, the place that beckons to him. As he leaves the water he finds himself heading toward a circle of trees that holds a secret that only he knows about. A place of magic and reprieve, for in this circle lies a soft grassy spot that will provide him rest for awhile and let his imagination take over. The boy lays down in the grass and the dog Clyde comes into the circle and greets him with a kiss on the boy's feet and lays down. His imagination takes over and he starts to dream. Battles of old rages in the mind of the young boy, he sees himself wielding a sword to defend his kingdom and Lady, an adventure as old as time itself. The feeling of being free is what settles on his heart as he drifts off to sleep to the sound of nature playing it's chorus around him.
This was a place I found myself and my heart time and time again. Without knowing it, this was the place that God met me in a very real way. I don't know if any of you had a similar place growing up? Maybe it was an attic full of antiques or a barn full of smells and memories or simply just a place of safety that you where called to while growing up. Here in these places we would whisper the secrets of our hearts of what we desired and shared our hurts if need to be. In my place I would whisper to whoever was listening about my hurts and my longings for adventures abroad, to be a lover, a fighter, a good man. These whispers I have found as I have grown older is continually silenced by people who have stopped hearing their hearts ages ago. Have you met these people? Nay sayers in your life, putting your hopes and desires down, telling you that who you are is not good or good enough. I myself have put a silence to whispers in other peoples hearts through the years and for this I am truly sorry. Maybe you have too in your own way? The people you care about most come to you, the safety place they are called to, and after they whisper their heart to you. What do we do? We silence it. Maybe through a harsh reply or through indifference but the other person leaves knowing in some way that their hearts desire is bad and even worst it is bad to share it as well. We all have done it,but why do we do it? I have found fear motivates me the most. The fear of my own heart whispers and feeling like I'm not pursuing them and therefor resentment starts to build in my heart. What motivates you to silence others?
I am reminded of a time in the Bible, when some children where called to come to Jesus to whisper their hearts to Him. But what happens? The disciples intervene to kill the hearts of the little ones. They respond in rational terms "Surely they don't understand the words of Jesus." This is what I love about Jesus right here. He was sitting there and sees this happening and what does he do? He intervenes in a very real way. "What are you doing?" He asked. Anger and frustration flashing across His eyes as he sees his disciples hindering the children and what does he do? He RESCUES and calls them to him. The disciples let the children come and Jesus speaks a simple truth. "Nobody enters the kingdom of heaven unless he or she has faith like a child." This tells us exactly what he wants from us. Because God simply desires to come and whisper His heart to us and in turn we whisper back our desires and hurts to Him. I ask you friends, do you dare to whisper again? Do you dare to listen to God's whisper? If we do, be willing to be changed by our God. Because He is calling us to that secret place, that place where we whisper our hearts to Him. Where intimacy is built between a Father and His children. Your secret place may have changed through the years but it's still there somewhere in our lives, if you have lost it, find it. He is calling to each and everyone of us to Him and in turn we can dare respond with open hearts . Let's dare to whisper for out of whispering we will become alive once more and learn who we are.
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