Wick is Life

"It's as wick as you or me," Dickon said; and Mary remembered that Martha had told her that "wick" meant "alive" or "lively."

"I'm glad it's wick!" she cried out in her whisper. "I want them all to be wick. Let us go round the garden and count how many wick ones there are." She quite panted with eagerness, and Dickon was as eager as she was. They went from tree to tree and from bush to bush. Dickon carried his knife in his hand and showed her things which she thought wonderful.

"They've run wild," he said, "but th' strongest ones has fair thrived on it. The delicatest ones has died out, but th' others has growed an' growed, an' spread an' spread, till they's a wonder. See here!" and he pulled down a thick gray, dry-looking branch. "A body might think this was dead wood, but I don't believe it is--down to th' root." {The Secret Garden}

With spring exploding in Minnesota, I can't expel one of my favorite literary passages from my mind, because what I face on each walk outside is the newness of life. Life proves to be everywhere.

But I am constantly being reminded that there is no life outside of Christ. Christ is wick. His spirit is life. Have I truly allowed it to fill me?

Life is an entity not self contained. It spreads, produces, procreates, struggles, survives. Ultimately, the love of God can be equated synonymously with life. Without love, there is no existence of life.

The state of my heart lately has resembled the secret garden. Closed. Feigning death. I haven't allowed people in, nor have I taken the effort to prune my branches or cultivate my life so that it produces life. Who should break into my heart to find its love for mankind and God except for Christ? Through Him, my heart is a garden cared for by a gardener, who wishes that more flowers should grow in a planned method. Even the wildflower seeds are scattered in a particular matter.

Although my love has been self contained, this summer it will bloom and grow. I am ready to be challenged and strengthened through ministry. My prayer is that at the end of summer, my heart will fully reveal the life it contains through Christ.

A passage that perfectly reflects the promises of God that are coming for all believers is evident in Jeremiah 31:11-13, which reads:

¹¹ For the LORD will ransom Jacob
and redeem them from the hand of those stronger than they.

¹² They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion;
they will rejoice in the bounty of the LORD—
the grain, the new wine and the oil,
the young of the flocks and herds.
They will be like a well-watered garden,
and they will sorrow no more.

¹³ Then maidens will dance and be glad,
young men and old as well.
I will turn their mourning into gladness;
I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.

A "well watered garden." It is coming, dry heart.