As I was walking my dog yesterday I pondered the life of Elizabeth Barrett Browning. She was a woman who grew up similarly to me - as a tom-boy. She was active and fun loving as a child, but developed a mysterious ailment as she grew into adolescence. Eventually she became an invalid. A brilliant invalid, but an invalid nevertheless.
Her home life wasn't the greatest. Her father was the epitome of controlling. In fact, he forbade all of his children to marry - male and female alike. They all lived at home - even as adults - unless sent to Jamaica to tend the family plantation. Mr. Barrett felt it his right and responsibility to administer discipline to his children (even when adults) who disobeyed him... Maybe these circumstances caused or contributed to Elizabeth's disabilities. Certainly the drugs they gave her to 'help' ended up hurting her instead.
She lived in her room for years - either in bed or reclined on her couch. Though she was close to her siblings, her main companionship came from her lap dog. While in her room she wrote poetry. I can't think of another word to describe it than brilliant. She was gifted, and everyone recognized it. Elizabeth enjoyed critical and popular acclaim.
Everything stayed the same for her until love came knocking on her door in the person of Robert Browning. A poet himself - but not of Elizabeth's caliber (yet), Browning sought Elizabeth out. He came for her. It took her weeks to admit him to her room (they corresponded by mail for some time). When she finally let him in, she began a journey toward health that would eventually lead her toward a fairly normal life. She would leave her father's house, defy his wishes and marry. She slowly built up strength until she could walk across her room, then down the stairs, and finally out the door. Elizabeth left the life of an invalid.
It occurs to me that all of us have some area of our lives in which we live the life of an invalid. We settle for less than the robust health we were meant to enjoy. There may be good reasons that we're in the shape we're in. But that doesn't mean that there are good reasons to stay there. We all need for love to come for us. We need to be sought out by the One who delights in us, who calls us to life.
May 2008 be a year when we leave behind something that holds us back from life as it was meant to be lived. May God grant us the desire and strength to reach for love and freedom.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment