Berry Picking

They hang dark purple in the afternoon sun.  Ripe morsels on sun filled sweetness.  I reach through the leaves to gather these tiny globes, wary of the biting thorns that hold them fast.  

We have an abandoned cabin next door that hasn't seen an owner in over six years now.  Ruthie died many years back and the daughters who now own the property are in California and only came back once six years ago to box up some of the contents.  We still tend the yard and beach as we have the past twenty five years now, lest it become overgrown and impassible.  Our only  compensation is the growth of wild black raspberries that have taken over the front of the cabin, now blocking entry to the door that remains unlocked!

Picking these little gems is a bit of task.  The thorns on the canes are extremely sharp and grabbing as I reach through to find the berries hiding under the green leaves.  Trying to clutch them in your fingers and pulling them from the canes results in a purplish-blue mess on your hands.  Instead, I have to coax them ever so gently and let them fall into my hand for rescue less they tumble to the ground only to become future growth.

As I was picking and letting my mind wander, I began to think about how my berry picking was like finding souls who are seeking Christ.  The sweetness of hearts that are hidden from view and protected by the thorns of experiences that won't allow them to be touched.  You can't just clutch at them firmly and pull at them because you are sure to be stuck by the thorns, but when coaxed gently from the vine they fall into waiting hands.  Like the raspberries there are many to pick.  Some may not yet be ripe.  Some may be far in the back and you have to work your way through the bramble to get to them.  Some may be over ripe and fall apart as they are touched.  Oft times we have to ignore the sharp pain it takes to get to the best ones.

It is only with love and gentleness that we can even begin to harvest, but the bushes are so full and ready.  It is in the sacrifice that makes it all so worthwhile.

Happy harvesting!