I remember not so long ago in my short life, my beginning

A time when the creative energy and grace of God brought me forth

First as a small bump, a tiny growth, but a fully alive entity

Created as a unique reflection of my maker to serve a specific role

Nourished and grown inside my birthmother until

I was strong enough to burst forth into the world

Finding myself in a strange new place and surrounded by my family

I began to unfold, small at first, then stretching and lengthening I grew

Upward and outward, but still connected in a special way to my birthmother

From whom I received and still receive the stuff of life itself

And now given air and sun and the refreshments of life I have grown to full size

Surrounded by my own, my family, my friends, alike me but all themselves

All with singularity of purpose to grow and nurture each other

To provide shelter and companionship as we join in outreach to the Father

In the springtime of my life I remember the warmth, the new growth

As I drew sustenance from the earth and the sky, I grew and unfolded to the world

When the rains of life came I soaked them in and weathered the storm

When the winds of change blew, I held on, bending but not breaking

I remained, joined tightly and secure because of my strong roots in faith

As the intense heat of summer baked and dried me I was parched

But again gained sustenance from my deep rooted attachment and faith

When the glaring bright sun blinded me I held tight and cast my cool shadow

When the dusty and dry periods tried to sap my life from me

I held on, sustained by the life giving connection I have with the Father

Now I feel like Fall is my season, with all the changes happening around me

My days are windy and turbulent and my nights are lonely and cold

Yet this is a period of test, a time to show my true color, who I really am

Even as my connection to life here feels weak, I loosen but still hold on

In the face of change, we all hold fast onto our home-place until we fall together

Even after the journey away from our life giving source we stay together and wait

Hoping in faith that in time, as we are covered by the cold of life’s long winter

That new life will spring forth, that new growth begin in us

That changed we will be all the better

That we will begin to nurture life ourselves and raise our arms in praise

To the One who saw all this in His heart, who brought us all life again once and forever

As we held Him in our arms that day

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