Three years ago I moved to Boston, MA with the idea that I’d only spend one year here. If someone had told me the challenges I’d face I don’t know if I would’ve willingly come. This time in my life has been so fruitful and with that came some major pruning.
They say Boston is a “transient city” and I sure felt that every year as old friends left and new people filled the different spaces. As I am getting ready to move back to Texas before leaving for The Race I have felt myself start to withdraw. I’ve never been one to do this but this time withdrawing felt like the easier option. It’s been hard to reflect on my time here because 2020 has made Boston not feel like Boston. The communities I once drew energy, purpose, and love from have dwindled. The challenges this year brought have been absolutely heart wrecking and I’ve been in quite a pit the last 2 months. I have been so stuck on what my community WAS that I haven’t been able to REMEMBER ALL that God has done in this season.
John 15:2 says, “ Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” Pruning is a method where you cut off dead or overgrown branches ESPECIALLY to increase growth. This verse in John is one that some use to encourage people when they are going through a “pruning season”. In all that has occurred the last couple of years one thing is constant and that was change. This verse says that anything that is not bearing fruit God will take away and anything that bears fruit he will PRUNE. The GOOD will be taken away to allow MORE GROWTH! It’s constantly felt like all the “good” things I started here ended just as quickly. Life happens, people move, friends lose touch, and things change. I felt God gently remind me of this pruning verse and it was like the biggest light bulb went off in my mind!
I can reminisce on all that God has done in this “transient city” because it has prepped and pruned me for continued growth. Things have blossomed here. I have learned, shared and taught others things that God put on my heart. I gained a perspective of community I never had before. I have met people who have shown me unconditional love by opening their hearts and homes. Because of this pruning season I have started a slow process of growing in Self-Confidence that is rooted in my identity as a child of God and not in worldly standards. Relationships are never easy. Humans are complicated and we mess up everyday. Those mess ups can affect others deeply and I’ve started to learn what it means to live in honest and loving relationships that bring growth. As I remember ALL of this I can do it with an open heart because I know this pruning season will only bring NEW GROWTH in the next one.
Thank you for continuing to follow me as I prepare to leave for the race in just about 3 months! In reflecting on this topic God put a couple of other verses on my heart that have been staples for my time in Boston. I’m excited to share them with you (pictured below)!
If you would like to partner with me and support my trip financially, you can donate to my trip based on these verses. For example: if you choose Romans 8:28 you can donate $8.28 or $18 for the total of all the numbers or $828. Simply click on the “Donate” button at the top of this page. Let me know which one you’d like to pick and I’d love to pray it over you!
As always prayers and encouragement are greatly appreciated for myself and my team. Please feel free to share this post with anyone who you think it would encourage. Thank you for all the support I’ve already received!
Love always,
Cyntya
I felt the spirit of The Lord in you the first day I met you, we all must go through a pruning so our Father can help us grow in Him!!! Your His beautiful jewel! Now go shine His light to the world ??! and watch the blessings rain down on you! ????????????