Even in the wintertime the root lives on. – St. Augustine
I love receiving letters. I used to keep letters; I pasted them all in my journals. I remember the first letter I received was from the shoebox with my first book. I just appreciate people who still write handwritten letters at this time. I just received a letter from my good friend and a strong woman that I look up to and this quote from St. Augustine was there, “Even in the wintertime the root lives on” and it just resonated to me. Sometimes it’s hard to write when it doesn’t make sense, but the Lord always remind me again when I felt clueless about this path.
I realized I love writing. I just like pouring my heart into a piece of art, transforming my confusion, heartaches, struggles, wins, and joys into words. Thus, this blog is very personal, some thoughts that I couldn’t utter to anyone were all here and perhaps if you’ve been reading here, you may know my deepest heart. Writing has been my airbag since then; when it’s hard to breathe, it gives me so much air. When I already put down my thoughts and my feelings, my heart and mind turn into blank sheets again. Just like what CS Lewis said, ‘Whenever you are fed up with life, start writing: ink is the great cure for all human ills, as I have found out long ago.‘
Real emotions transcend language; therefore, some painters paint, some authors write, some poets produce poems, and some musicians play music… It is just so magical when something turns into a piece of art because of our feelings and emotions. Sometimes language oversimplifies how we feel; for example, when you say, “I’m sad,” people could assume you merely feel lonely, but they have no idea that you may also be avoiding sunshine, staying in bed and wandering the streets alone, or devouring food. When you say, “I’m in love” others might think you’re romanticizing but they never know it’s giving you so much inspiration to be a better person, it feels like you’re the most beautiful woman in the world, it’s praying to God at night if it’s real, it’s looking at the moon and stars while uttering the person’s name, and believing that love conquers all. When you say, “I’m happy” they never know that it brings you to the clouds, makes you smile with strangers and gives you more motivation to find happiness in every corner.
I realized how beautiful it is to be a human, to have senses, to have feelings, and emotions, to speak a language, and to experience all these things at once in this world. God is just so powerful and strategic in doing all of these things. And I am still in awe of His idea when He gave us His letters- His Word. Have you ever read a verse, and it is just so powerful that it leads you to worship Him? Suddenly your worries turn into worship, unbelief turns into faith, doubt turns into trust, and you will have peace that surpasses understanding.
Life is quirky, full of surprises, a riddle of suffering, and marvels of such great grace. Though life is inherently uncertain, His Word is dependable and has stood the test of time. God is aware of how feeble and helpless human minds are. Therefore, we need His Word so we won’t fall into the trap of the enemy’s lies. Truth has grown ambiguous in our day and age and depends already on a person’s sentiments and emotions. But the truth is so simple yet unchanging, redeeming, restoring, enveloping, liberating, and offering hope. It shatters false beliefs, injures our sentiments, and wounds our ego and pride. The Almighty presented us with His letters, scribed a thousand years in the past. It never lies and always drives us to our knees. You can always trust His letters: His Word and His heart.
May our roots be connected and aligned in His Word.
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
WHOEVER ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence. The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom and humility comes before honor.
Proverbs15:32-33
Commit your work to the LORD and your plans will be establish. The LORD has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble
Proverbs 16:3-4
The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.
Isaiah 40:8
Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.
Jeremiah 33:3
BUT whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.
1 John 2:5-6
Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise, For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”
1 Corinthians 3:18-20
The promises of the LORD can be trusted; they are as genuine as silver refined seven times in the furnace.
Psalm 12:6
