Holes

There is this beautiful park in Nashville that we like to go to,especially in the fall. To get there takes much time and patience. Not because it is far away but because it is so adored and there is very limited parking spaces. You make a left hand turn on a street that is lined with trees and only wide enough for 1.5 cars. There is a sign as you enter saying dead end but you keep going because you know what is at the end of that road.  You make your way through the colorful tree adorned hills and past million dollar homes. Leaves soar over your car as they make their expected fall to the ground. Then you come upon it, the line. A line that seems a mile long but in reality is the length of 10 cars. One by one cars turn around to get out of line, they can't wait any longer and leave. To the right up the hill you see the parking lot. Full and small. You see someone walking back to their car and the line moves up. You are closer. Six cars to go but people slowly start to trickle back to their cars, the wait takes 40 min and then it is your turn. 

So much time for one little park. Why? Because it is beautiful. Some people don't have the patience but the ones that do receive the gift of its beauty that is shown in the magnificent colors that reflect off the lake right into your eyes. 

On this particular day we walked the path along the lake that is paved and dog friendly. We passed many people walking.  Some in their older years walking slow and taking it all in and not saying a word to each other. Some young and holding hands, laughing and some alone with their precious companion by their side. We greeted everyone who past us that would give us attention. For we were happy and at peace. We waited patiently and now we are reaping our reward. We walked on. I noticed the leaves more in detail. I wanted to find the perfect one so that I could take it home, put it in my favorite book and dry it out so that I could remember it and look at it for years to come. As I looked and looked I realized there wasn't a perfect leaf. It either had brown spots or holes. One thing I did notice was the suns light beams shining through each one of those holes glaring into my eyes. I squint.  I lost my need for the perfect leaf and admired the ones right before me, perfectly imperfect. 

I began to think each leaf represent each person here on earth. We are broken, we have brown spots and some have holes, many holes. We all have something we are going through, something that test us  or breaks us. It's what we do with those holes that make us. God wants to use those holes to shine his light through them. To reach other people and help them through their holes and heal our own by his light. Life sucks.  And because of this falling world we will go through pain and trials. One thing God promised us is that we don't have to go through it alone. Know one thing leaving my blog today, we all are going through something right now, no one has that perfect leaf. We all have holes. Use your holes to let Gods light shine on someone else. It's amazing what happens when we let go and let God use us and our pain to bring glory to him! 

Take the narrow path that is less traveled but so worth the journey. God has so much beauty to show you.