“I have come to my garden, my sister, my spouse…”
-Song of Solomon 5:1

Invisible drops of clear rain fall on my eyelids as I awaken with wonder and ecstasy. My being is enlightened as the drops roll sweetly down my face into the abyss of my soul. I quickly fall fast asleep as I’m taken from my body into a world that many dream of, and most rarely ever see.

I then felt a hand grasp hold of mine as I was led into a dark tunnel. I tried to see what was in front of me, but the darkness was so thick that I felt it began to swallow me, yet, in a moment, the tunnel began to yield such light. I started to cover my eyes, but I then realized that the light was not hurting me; it was drawing me. I tried to look at the face of the one who was holding my hand, but the light was too bright. Colors seemed to arise and swirl in all different directions. Light flooded the whole tunnel. My breath seemed to glow. I felt alive—alive in a way that the human soul has never felt!

I opened my mouth to speak, yet my words seemed to be so empty. I finally was able to ask, “Who are you?” to the human who held my hand so sweetly and tightly. Sweet whispers of peace moved gently through the tunnel. Sounds of angelic voices moved in waves. Such love was coming forth! I could feel that it was love for the one who held my hand.

In hearing these voices my heart seemed like it began moving, even expanding like a stretching. It hurt for a moment, yet there was a feeling of beauty in it, as if beauty and love were coating my heart.

I cannot describe the colors that wrapped around us as we walked. I wanted to speak to the one holding my hand, but I knew the time would come. It seemed like we walked for forever, yet it seemed like just a moment.

I began to see some light as we approached the end of the tunnel. Light was in my feet and in my every move. I asked this one who was guiding me, “Where are we going?” There was no answer; just an assurance in my soul that this person would take care of me.

Only a short distance from the end of the tunnel, my heart seemed huge now. Such love was beaming forth from it. I loved walking this journey.

When we reached the end of the tunnel, there standing before us was a huge iron gate. Running in and out of the bars were roses of all colors. So beautiful it was! The smell was so sweet and full of so much life. I’ve never seen flowers so beautiful! The door quickly opened for us, and we walked in.

We stood in the middle of a beautiful, large, grassy area encircled by tall stone walls. Vines ran up and down the walls, and flowers made their homes on vines and branches. Butterflies of all colors, beautiful birds and brightly colored trees found refuge in this place. There was so much to take in. It was amazing!

I then turned my head and caught sight of the one who had led me through that long tunnel. I couldn’t take my eyes off of this man who held my hand so tightly, so sweetly, so lovingly. He was so amazing, breathtaking! I fell into his arms and wept for hours.

He led me underneath a shaded tree by a large well; we sat down at the base of the tree and looked deep into each others eyes for what seemed like days. I couldn’t take my eyes off of this man. He looked straight through me and into my heart. He knew intimately all the things I had been through—all the tears I had cried and all the times I had lost in a fight for freedom. He knew my very essence—what held me together. He knew my frame and that I was but dust. He saw me in my mother’s womb, and He wrote out the plans for my life from the first step to the last.

He was that man that had led me carefully down this long tunnel into this beautiful place! Who was he? His

love was too much for me to grasp. It would take me a lifetime and beyond to wrap my mind around the fullness of His thoughts toward me. I knew that He knew me, and He knew that I desperately wanted to know him.

His amazing voice broke the silence. “Come; let me show you around this place. I brought you here to show you something.”

I walked around in what seemed like a daze, drawn into an unknown world of intimacy. I was so in love. I walked around this large place with awe.

He took me through a small vineyard where large juicy red grapes were hanging from the vines. He spoke to me, saying, “I am the vine and my Father is the vine dresser. Any branch that does not bear fruit, He lifts up and cuts away. The vines that do bear fruit he takes and prunes them. It is painful, yes, but when the pruning is complete the fruit that comes forth is beautiful and excellent. You’ve tasted this pain, haven’t you?”

I looked up and began to weep. “Yes, my very soul has been bleeding because of the pruning. I’ve been attached to so many things that you have had to cut away. You’re purifying my desires, and more than anything, you’re teaching me how to love.”

He spoke again— “During this time I plead with you to dwell in me. I promise that I’ll dwell in you. I’ll be close to you and I’ll hold you. See, a branch cannot bear fruit apart from being connected to the vine, right? It is the same with me. You can’t bear fruit and live in fullness apart from grasping hold of my grace day in and day out. Apart from me you can do nothing!”

He then took me to another side of this beautiful place, and He began lifting up small stones underneath which small insects and bugs were moving. He spoke kindly to me and said, “In your heart there are stones that have been left unmoved your whole life. If you are to grow, you must let all the stones be removed and let all the bugs be caught. So often you look at all of your weakness and make it your main focus. Yes, it needs to be dealt with, but know this: I don’t define you by your weakness or by your shortcomings; I define you by the cry of your heart. I know all the times you weep over your weakness and tell me that you want to be wholly mine. I will deal with the small bugs in your life. I will remove the stones in time. Don’t walk around with your head low because you have struggles. Know that my delight is in you and my desire is for you.”

We spent hours together in that place talking and laughing. At one point He grabbed my hand as we walked around and sang together. His

voice was so sweet; my heart yearned all the day long. I was in love like never before. Deep in my being, life was stirring. He had spoken truth to me, and I was undone.

We spent days there. We talked about so many things, and I felt renewed, changed!

I asked Him one day, “Are we going to stay here forever? I love it.”

He pulled me gently into His arms and lifted my chin up to look straight into His eyes.

“Don’t you know? This is your garden. This is what I see when I look at you. You live here always. You commune with me always. The vineyard I showed you is the fruit that has come forth from your life. The pruning that I do in you I do to make you more beautiful. The stones I uncover and the bugs I catch, I do this always. I am constantly planting flowers here. I am constantly drinking from your well. Daily I come here to sit in the shade of the tree. I eat the fruit in the vineyard.”

Then tears began to well up in His eyes. He spoke almost in a tender whisper between his tears. “This is my favorite place to come. I love your garden.”

I awoke from the dream with tears running down my face. This was no dream. This is the inward reality that we have not touched yet. Our hearts are

His garden where He will come and spend His days soaking. It’s because we responded to His love. We reached out to the unseen, and our eyes were opened.

Are we really willing to let Him blow on our gardens so that our gardens can be more beautiful and excellent?

I love you all, Be blessed,

*Rebekah Fancher*

Awake, O north wind, And come, O south!
Blow upon my garden , that its spices may flow out.
Let my beloved come to his garden
And eat its pleasant fruits.

-Song of Solomon 4:16