Remain Connected to the Source

I am not a fan of insects. Those little creatures are so unpredictable. You can be having a casual chat with someone and then all of a sudden, there is a little guy standing on your shoulder and it’s not Jiminy Cricket! When that happens to me, it’s like my brain takes over and I’m convinced that the bug is still there. Especially when I don’t see where it went. My skin crawls and I’m flinching at every little thing. The bigger they are the scarier, but those tiny ones can give you a run for your money as well.

...all of a sudden, there is a little guy standing on your shoulder...

Although I’m not an enthused entomologist, I still find that I’ve learned some life lessons from bug behavior. One thing that stands out to me are the cicadas. Have I mentioned I’m not a fan of insects? Especially not huge winged insects with giant red eyes that make loud chirping noises when they unexpectedly land on you! Count yourself blessed if you never had to walk to work when these guys were having their grand emergence. Maybe that’s why I feel the way I do about bugs. I feel like I’m still traumatized by that. But, I digress. Although I’m not their biggest fan, I can recall one year during the tail end of an emergence, I observed clusters of trees in my neighborhood with clumps of dead leaves. This was so surprising and eye catching to me because we were still in the warmer months and not anywhere near my favorite season of Autumn just yet. All other areas of the tree were bright and colorful. What was with the dead leaves? So, I did what the average person does these days and consulted Professor Google. What I learned was fascinating. To put it in simple terms, those dying leaves clinging to an otherwise vibrant tree were evidence that a female cicada had laid her eggs in the branches of those impacted trees. Doing so caused a disruption in the ordinary flow of water and other nutrients that generally help those leaves thrive.

This was truly astounding to me and became a teachable moment that I continue to hold onto even today. Why? Because it illustrates what happens when there is a disconnect from our life source. I’m not talking natural here. We tragically see and hear the result of the same thing on a daily basis with natural disasters and violence leading to lives lost. What I’m focusing on is when there is a disconnect from our spiritual life source. Just like those trees, there is evidence that there is a disruption. 

...there is evidence that there is a disruption...

Some time ago, I remember talking with a close friend who was sharing with me how she felt disconnected from God. She felt like she wasn’t hearing from him the way she’d grown used to. As our conversation wrapped up, she acknowledged that part of the issue was probably because she wasn’t praying or reading her bible the way she used to. For some of us, when we are feeling out of sorts and disconnected, we are very quick to shift the blame to God. But since he is the source of everything, it stands to reason that one of the things we should do is also check out our connection. Is there a fault in the line? Is there a disruption within the branch obstructing the flow? When we do find ourselves feeling that level of disconnect, it never hurts to start with prayer. We value keeping the lines of communication open with one another. Why should it be any different with our savior? 

Stay Sunny!

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