Free Fall…
Ever actually seen a field of wheat? Me either – but I love the pictures showing stalks gently blowing in the breeze, like a sea of gold.
These days machines do much of the work taking the grain from the stalk and leaves – stuff called chaff. But back in the day before all that modern equipment, wow, hard work – messy – time intensive. The workers would spread the sheaves out and beat them and then begin tossing them in the air. The wind takes away the lightweight unwanted chaff and the grain falls to the ground.
A picture of us. Standing in our own confidence. Then life happens. We stubbornly hold on to all we’ve known. But little by little, if we let Him, God breaks us down. All our chaff – selfishness, pride, greed, ugly things we hold on to – begins to blow away.
For us it is a lifelong process. Some days much of our good grain – compassion, generosity – becomes apparent. Other days the chaff fills the air around us.
Love this quote by George Eliot “Oh the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with You, having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but to pour them out, just as they are, chaff and grain together, knowing that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then, with the breath of kindness, blow the rest away.”
The breath of kindness, just as we are. Free falling grain into the hands of our trustworthy God. No pretenses needed, for He knows us better than we know ourselves. He looks upon our worst moments and still says “This one is mine.”
A Faithful Hand, in the midst of our faithlessness, beckoning to our spirit to trust, to let His love transform us, to finally be crushed into something useful. The grain that fell to the ground still has no use. Milled into a fine powder then mixed with oil, water, and yeast it bakes into a wondrous aroma and life sustaining food. Us too, transformed by the renewing of our spirit with His sweet aroma to those around us.
“He saved us — not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy — through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” (Titus 3:5 HCSB)
parisrenae 
Great insight, Paris. Powerful thoughts…”We stubbornly hold on to all we’ve known. But little by little, if we let Him, God breaks us down. All our chaff – selfishness, pride, greed, ugly things we hold on to – begins to blow away.”
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His Word is our power house isn’t it – He takes us just as we are, but doesn’t leave us there. Blessings resting in His hands…
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Praise the Lord for His faithfulness and His patience with us. Thankfully He already knows that godliness is a life long process. Beautiful post, love the comparison of the chaff and our ungodliness. Found your post on the linkup
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Brenda, He is so faithful – and thankfully, so gracious and patient. May His presence in us be what is seen more and more each day…
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Amen, that indeed is my desire
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Beautiful thoughts! Yes, I live in a rural area where I can often see those waving fields of grain blowing in the wind. And on harvest day, the chaff does float everywhere! I’m so thankful for our grace-filled Lord who will sift and pour out the chaff within our own hearts! Blessings to you!
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Harvesting our hearts little by little, til it looks more and more like our Savior’s. Blessings as He gently blows in your life and as you serve Him…
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Hi Paris,
I love your post! My late husband & I were wool growers & crop farmers in the central west of NSW, Australia….which means we grew hundreds of acres of wheat crops as well as had 2,000 head of Merino sheep!
It was hard work! But yes the harvest was bought in by our Combine Harvester which my husband operated. He did remember having to bring it in more manually when he was a boy though!
Isn’t it great that the Lord nurtures us & gets us ready for the final purpose, to feed the people with our experience in Him (as our wheat did).
You’re most welcome to drop by for a cup of inspiration anytime!
Jennifer
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Jennifer, I just ‘dropped by for tea with you’ 🙂 Lovely and refreshing. Yes, yes He can use us to be a sweet aroma and a shoulder to lean on as we learn to trust in Him. Many blessings sister in Christ, someday we shall meet…
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Sent you a reply email 🙂
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