Draw Close - Thoughts Like Bees

Your presence is thick Like honey, dripping and sweet I find myself waiting And hear You beckoning I see You with arms stretched wide Wrapping me in gentle embrace A memory of salvation Redemption — mirrored in Your frame I whisper softly “I don’t want to leave.” You smile and say, “Draw close, dear one. You can stay here forever. Time is not an issue. —I created it.” That voice so familiar, and so loving “You see, from my presence you can never go And from my thoughts you will never be.” But my thoughts swarm Like bees — Riddled with accusations of the Enemy Like bees — Drawn to the nectar of the voice of my Maker Drifting and vanishing in the evening breeze War ensues within “Can I really stay? Can this be just like it was meant to? Like the Garden I heard of so long ago The one where we were banished for eating from a tree…” I ponder aloud, Afraid I‘ve offended— — The one, where we walked together In the cool of the day, I hear Him whisper There is no hatred, condemnation, or disdain. Draw close, dear one. He beckons again My eyes drift back to the Ancient of Days Redemption mirrored in His frame Arms stretched wide One look at Him And I know. He knows — Me, far better than I even know myself. “You were with me.” He says He continues, softer now. “With every jeer, slap, curse and nail. You were there — and I felt Every worry, question, fear, heartache — and pain. So much pain. Sin. Shame. — and every single ounce of it, I felt in unexplainable love, carved in blood, on my outstretched frame— Blood — flowing through cracks and crevices in the earth I fashioned, molding into the ground you stand upon Blood — hit the mercy seat. Humanity not understanding the depth of their need How redemption was My plan from the very beginning Blood — washed. Clean. YOUR SIN kept me on that tree But, dear one, MY LOVE for you got me off.” Weeping, I stood — far off and distant Afraid to approach “Draw close, dear one.” His refrain, echoing again How could He? Grace upon grace Extended To a wretch like me Relentless Redemption mirrored in His frame Complete And Total Surrender “Let’s go for a walk” He whispers, leading. Where could I go from your Spirit, where could I hide from Your presence? — the Psalmist literature playing in my mind to the symphony of thoughts like bees I don’t want to go. I don’t want to hide. “Where to?” I ask He grins Gently. Knowingly. “The Garden.”