Sunday, October 27, 2013

Seeds of Faith

A few years back in my summer vegetable garden I started to grow a mysterious vine.  Out of sheer curiosity as to what it would become, I watered it and allowed it room to thrive. Soon I saw it start to flower, blossom and produce.  By the end of the summer I had the most delicious, juicy cantaloupe, grown from a seed I didn’t realize I had planted. I so easily could have plucked up that seedling as if an unwanted weed, but instead I was nudged to let it grow. What wonder and joy letting it grow brought!

In many ways, my faith has been just like that seed.

Being raised in a Christian home started me off with a great foundation for my faith. It planted seeds that, like that mysterious vine in my garden, I would later work to germinate and grow into a faith of my own, a faith that I am still cultivating and discovering with each passing day.

As a child there were times when I did not question the God that my parents taught, for He was as real in my life as the home that I lived in and the family that raised me.  I trusted with the heart of a child. 

As I began to spread my independent wings, craving to break free from the defining cover of my parents, I experimented with all kinds of ME, striving to find just who "ME" really was.  

It was during this heightened period of growing pains and desire for independence that I distanced myself from the faith that my parents "forced" upon me.  I put God on a very distant shelf and moved on with defining ME, with only ME in control (at least in my mind).

But just like that mysterious vine in my garden the spiritual seeds of my faith were determined, and had burrowed deeply.  Despite my efforts to ignore their existence, slowly, ever so slowly, as my attempts to live a life dependent on ME and ME alone failed, they began to sprout up.  Early in my adulthood I would glance over and see those weak little seedlings, and cling to them with desperate hope that they would bring comfort to my soul, save me from whatever ailed me at the time.  And like that mysterious vine in my garden, I was nudged to let them grow, even while I was unsure as to what those seedlings even really were.  

Memory verses from my childhood would pop up into my head and "Jesus Loves Me" would echo throughout my mind as I tried to imagine just how that could even BE anything more than just a comforting phrase.  

With each passing year, and a little bit of cultivation here and there as I searched for a greater depth in my life, those seedlings continued to grow.  As I sought out a church in which to worship as an adult, visiting every denomination under the sun, I sat through countless sermons and Sunday school classes. I brought children into this world, and discovered a desire to plant seeds in them as had been done with me. I realized again that those seedlings of faith continued to blossom and spread. 

The vines became thirsty for more watering, fertilizer, sunshine.  I had no idea that my God, who created me, loved me enough to place this thirst IN me.  I began to seek out books on Christianity and actually paid attention in church (I grew up only half listening because I thought it was what I was supposed to do!).  I gathered with other thirsty women who sought an understanding of their faith and this life to delve into spiritual topics, books and studies.  Together we debated, shared, cried and prayed as our hearts GREW in the understanding that there is a God who LOVES us.  As I read my children Bible stories of Jesus's love I heard those words myself in a way that I never had before.  

He loved not only the little children, but ME, too!

The storms of life that threatened the core of who I was and who I thought I was drove me into these arms I did not know were so unconditionally present for ME, waiting for me to run into, for comfort, forgiveness, grace and mercy, in a way I had never experienced in the world.  My vines now were rapidly spreading, seeking the light and watering that came from the true Source.  A Source that had been present all along, waiting so patiently for me to come Home.  Lovingly providing and protecting me as I stubbornly tried to cultivate a life with no seeds, no rich soil, no water from my Creator.  

Yet there He was, the whole time.  My God.  My love. The Great I Am.  

Today I am living a life so juicy, so sweet, like that cantaloupe grown from a seed I did not know even existed in my garden.  I thirst for Him, to know my God, my Creator, my all.  I am stilled in a way I did not know was ever possible as I hear Him in His Word, see Him in this world, feel Him in my life.  

More days than not I have to make a concerted effort to seek God's cultivation, to water my soul with His Word, to look for His Light in my life, for that drive to be independent ME is still there.  I am human, in all my brokenness and sin.  

Yet like that determined cantaloupe, the seeds of my faith have taken root so deep within the core of my being that I KNOW where to find my light and where to satisfy my thirst.  Even on the days when I don't, my Savior is waiting, with open arms, calling me Home, knowing just how beautiful I am to grow under his tender loving care.


4 comments:

  1. Once again....beautiful! You don't have to do much except share to spread the word of God's amazing love. By your personal stories and experiences, you can touch many! Keep sharing and opening up.....you will be the water, sunshine, or fertilizer for someone else. More exciting you may be the seed in someone else! xoxo Steph

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  2. You truly have been given a beautiful spiritual gift; your way with words. I am so glad you have decided to allow your gift to flourish by taking a leap of faith and sharing your words with others. Cannot wait to see where this journey takes you...not to mention the people you will be touching. Much love my friend! Jody

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  3. What a wonderful way to notice God's love...through your beautiful garden and an unwanted plant trying to grow. You are a true friend and are constantly "watering" me and helping me to grow in so many ways, I am looking forward to reading more....
    xo, LA

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  4. Beautiful beautiful analogy! I am excited to be a seedling, growing in God's love...

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