Do you see that picture to the left? Those are the plants I started in mid-March. They looked so good. Two days ago Shannon and I finished putting the plants in the ground -- the tomatoes counted 41 (I know, I know -- who really needs 41 tomato plants). We also planted cucumber, pepper, and flower plants (and a bunch of seeds earlier -- the beans by one of my teepees are beginning to sprout!). Late afternoon yesterday we went out to water. And oh, the tomatoes looked terrible! Dinky and kind of shriveled up. We watered them but my heart was sinking. How can these dinky plants do anything? This morning Shannon left early to lift with his lifters. I got up later and I will tell you I was overwhelmed. I was fearful. Full of fear. First, it was like 7 a.m. and I felt I had so much to do. Second, I was full of fear for those dinky tomato plants. I had to water and I had wanted to walk, but it was getting too late for that (I take care of my son Hawken and I have lupus -- have to be careful what time I do my activities outside). |
I also put on the sprinkler in the garden -- sprinklers are for older people and little kids -- older people because it makes watering the garden easier; little kids because it is fun to run in the sprinkler! Actually, do kids still do that? Maybe not. That was a summer joy when growing up for me (and probably lots of kids who grew up in the 1970s and 1980s).
And then I took the time to look at my dinky tomato plants. They looked a whole lot better than they did last night. Maybe there is hope. God then reminded me the size of those plants doesn't predict their future fruitfulness. Last year I planted some really good-sized plants, and they did nothing for me (last year was a bad gardening year for us, but a good geranium year!)
We humans often judge by what we see. And often this serves us well -- when we're driving a vehicle; when we're picking out fruit at the grocery store; when we pump gas; when we need to get to safety, etc.
But when the outside is affected by what is going on in places we can't see, our sight can hinder us from seeing the truth -- I guess this applies to things/objects that grow -- plants and people and animals -- living things. God says this very thing to the Prophet Samuel when he was sent to anoint King Saul's replacement.
In 1 Samuel 16:7 God says to Sanuel, "Looks aren't everything. Don't be impressed with his looks and stature. I've already eliminated him. GOD judges persons differently than humans do. Men and women look at the face; GOD looks into the heart." MSG
He is talking about people here, but this can be applied to anything living too. Don't despise small beginnings. That is a paraphrase from a verse in Ezekiel. Good things start small. Small and unseen is often how God works. Not flashy and glamorous.
Thanks for reading! Jesus loves you and so do I!