Rise up, my love, my fair one, And come away”

Song of Solomon 2:10

As she awoke, her heart was filled, as she heard the voice of her beloved singing. “Arise my love, arise my fair one and come away with me. Arise my love.” She arose and cried out. “Yes my Beloved, I will come to You; for You are my desire… My Salvation… My Love.” Hopelessness rose to her feet and ran out to the garden still dressed in her night garments. As she ran past the Gates of Praise, she fell to her knees and sang the song of her Lover, “I am my Beloved’s, His desire is for me ~ I will sing the songs of His love, for His love is for me.” To her delight, she heard the voice of her Lover singing softly before her. “Arise my love, my sweet love, come to me for my desire is for you.” Her Lover stretched out His hands to her and raised her to her feet. In His strong yet gentle arms, He embraced Hopelessness and consumed her in His passion. In His hands, he raised her face and gently kissed her. His eyes blazed with passion as He gazed upon the one that held His desire. With a firm but gentle voice, He spoke. “My love, my fair one~do you love Me?” Hopelessness buried her face in the bosom of her Lover and in a voice barely above a whisper, she spoke to her Lover saying. “Only You know my heart, for You have healed and filled my heart with Your love.” Then she trembled with delight as she gazed into His eyes and answered with unspeakable joy. “Yes ~ I do love You.” Barely able to contain His joy, He took the hand of Hopelessness and cried out. “My love ~ come away with Me for I have prepared a place for our marriage celebration. Do not go back to your cottage to exchange your night garments, for I have for you here the garments of praise.”

Together they danced through the fields towards her Lover’s garden. As they approached the garden of her Lover, Hopelessness stood dismayed. The entrance to the garden was blocked by three trees. As Hopelessness looked upon the trees, she saw that the two trees the right and left of the entranceway to were dead and very ugly. But as she looked at the tree that was planted in the centre, she gasped in horror, for blood was flowing from that tree. As she turned away, she looked into the eyes of her Lover and said, “We cannot enter Your garden by this way, for all who enter by this way, well the only end is death.” He gazed more deeply than any other has ever dared, directly into the eyes of Hopelessness. As His gaze cut her to her heart, compassion flooded his very being as He spoke. “My love ~ there is no other way into My garden but by my tree of blood. It is true, that when entering by this way, the end is death.” Then He took the hands of Hopelessness and spoke to her saying. “Do not fear, for this death is necessary but is not forever. If you follow Me into My garden then our love shall be complete.” Then with a love in His eyes that burned brighter than she had ever seen before, He asked her again . “Do you love Me?” Hopelessness fell at His feet. Barely able to speak, she whispered. “You alone know my heart, for my heart belongs to You.” As her tears washed the feet of her Lover, her voice trembled as she spoke.  “Yes, I do love You, for You are my Love. Take me into Your garden. I will follow you where ever You go.” He raised hopelessness to her feet. With his strong hands, He lifted her face and gently kissed her. Then with His strong arms, He picked Her up and carried her towards the tree of blood. Hopelessness looked into the eyes of her Lover as she whispered, “I am my Beloved’s and He is mine.” Then she closed her eyes and fell asleep.

The joyful sounds of the river of living waters awoke her. At first, she didn’t know where she was as she lay upon the cold rock floor, but then she remembered her Beloved and once again longed after Him. As she looked towards the river of living waters, she saw a deer drinking deeply from it. At the sight of the deer, she knew that it was safe for her to take a drink from the river as well. As she approached the water and drank, she saw her reflection and saw that she was no longer dressed in the garments of praise, but instead she was dressed in a pure spotless white wedding gown. Then to her sheer delight, she heard the voice of her Beloved as He sang out to her. “Rise up my love, my fair one, and come away. For lo, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come. Arise my love, my fair one and come away with me!” Hopelessness leaped to her feet and ran to her lover, as she flung herself into His open arms. He took her in His arms and drew her closer. As He held her close, His chest filled and exploded with laughter as hope filled the valley. Then He spoke to His beloved. “No longer shall you be called Hopelessness. You have followed me and have passed through My tree of blood, so I have given you a new name. Now you shall be known as My Hopeful One.” Then her Lover, unable to contain His joy, began to rejoice over her with singing and dancing. Thus He sang to Her. “I will sing to you my beloved, for you are my bride.” Then He lifted His Hopeful One up into His arms and sang out. “Come away with Me My beloved. For our wedding celebration is prepared.”