B is the letter for today. While out listening to the birds chirp as I waited for my Bella to take her potty break, the phrase bare but not barren blew into my mind one winter morning. As I looked intently on the beautiful bird perched in the tree, the unadorned branches of the tree caught my attention. It was still winter so the tree’s nakedness was not unusual; it actually had a natural beauty to it. The tree was bare but not necessarily barren. To the outward eye bare and barren can look the same. However, bare is to be empty but barren is to lack the ability to produce. Just like the tree was bare (empty of leaves), there are places in my life that are currently bare. The tree’s bareness was simply due to the season the tree was in. It didn’t signify the tree’s eternal state. Beneath the surface, the tree was connected to some life-nurturing sustenance yet it had no outer appearance of growth. As you know seasons change and now that same tree is now budding.
When I actually took the time to look up the definition of the two words it was in alignment with what the spirit revealed. BARE= lacking a natural, usual or appropriate covering; open to view; unfurnished or scantily supplied; devoid of amplification or adornment. BARREN= not reproducing; incapable of producing offspring; habitually failing to fruit ; not productive; lacking interest or charm. Depending on the length of time or the severity of your bareness, some people would have you inclined to believe that particular place in your life is actually barren – it lacks the ability to produce fruitful relationships, ideas, or ministry. Therefore be careful who you connect with during your “bare” seasons; otherwise you might find yourself disconnected from the Source (the innate power within you to reproduce). Bare is momentary while barren can be for a lifetime. Thank you Lord that every bare place in my life will produce fruit in its proper season.
Photo by: plentyofants
Powerful thoughts.
And that last sentence. Amen.
You have a very beautiful writing style. Nice work!
Profound thoughts and a very good way of writing. I wish I could write a staight blog, but I find I can express myself better in poetry form.Good luck with the challenge.
Yvonne.
You have such an amazing way of bringing one subject into the same field as another, and having it all make sense. I'm in awe.
Hi Wanda!! What a beautiful thought provoking post…I'm impressed and if I was a preacher, I would so be doing my Easter sermon on this…Awesome…Thanks for this and I am bare but not barren 🙂
I love this picture. Also the topic, creative and thoughtful. Thanks for doing the challenge with me, and yes, I am a rebel. Always gotta go against the crowd :)!
You have really made a great connection here. I agree with Slush that this would make a great sermon topic. This is such a deep and rich message that you have presented in such a beautiful way. Your writing touches me.
Lee
I love the deep thoughts in this blog. I agree, despite the fact that the tree is bare, it is still very beautiful. Nicely done.
hi Wanda:)
thank you for your encouragement. i really liked my first read here.
Hi, Wanda,
Thanks for the challenge to remember the difference between bare and barren. What a lovely posting.
I'll be back. Best regards to you!
Ruby
What a great post. 🙂
Lovely post. It is so easy to confuse the two words, but there is a world of difference between them, isn't it?