My Inner Forests Are Stripped Bare

Sometimes a major change or formative event in your life can drastically change the landscape of your soul and inner life. Things that used to be are no more. You find that you are not what you once were but not yet what you are to become. Even in that formless and unsure gestational identity time, navigation from another realm can whisper the truth of who you are to your wondering heart. What happens then may be unprecedented as you watch what seemed dark and void erupt into a surprise discovery and overwhelming outpouring of praise!

“The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth, and strips the forest bare; And in His temple everyone says, ‘Glory!’ ” (Psalm 29:1-11)

And the forests within me have been stripped bare.

Thick, lush life as I have known, is hidden.

But within my frame, carried about by my bones

is his temple, where He is pleased to dwell.

And inside that temple, all wait on tiptoe, straining…

Anticipating something never before in existence

to emerge.

And from a deep place, a sound is heard, rising up

bringing illumination in its train.

Everyone begins to whisper “glory…” and movement escalates,

accelerating.

My heart says, “glory!” My brain says “glory!” My bones say “glory!”

Every joint, great and small says, “glory!”

Blood vessels, vital organs, systems, muscles,

tendons, blood, lymph, … all say “glory!”

And my soul joins in to what it is hearing

resounding throughout the temple,

while my spirit, mixed with His

in a satisfied, eternal knowing,

ever so slowly, with deeply etched ancient face creases,

smiles.

This was penned by the author following a major surgery season in her life where introspection of soul was experienced. Perceived inner scatteredness and brokenness led to breakthrough when God’s Spirit came gently into her personal space in a very unprecedented way. Significant change happened. This was one of the first times she wrote, unhindered, in her time of recovery.