Day Twenty-Six

April 26

Exactly six weeks ago, I placed over an hundred infinitely tiny seeds into potting soil to begin their journey toward maturation.

A week of germination in the dark, moist and covered with heat mats, was followed by another week of tiny sprouts poking up and out of their slumber.

Next, another few weeks of sitting, seemingly dormant, under T5 grow lights… gaining energy and strength to put forth growth.

Today, six weeks later, the “garden room” looks more like a fully fledged foliage jungle.

Today, the tomatoes began seriously dipping and leaning from lack of support.

Standing together, side by side, in a mass has worked for holding things in place up until a few days ago.

And so, preferred by all or not, it was time to assess, separate, and support.

Because in just a few weeks, they will need to have developed what’s necessary for them to stand alone. In the elements - without the company and support of their fellow seedlings.

They’ll have to endure intense rain, drought, sun exposure, maybe hail, wind, cold and heat, pests, wildlife, disease…

I’m forever astounded by the fact that one tiny little singular seed carries all the potential for producing fruit.

Today, I’m reminded that we, the body of Christ, carry within us all the potential necessary for producing fruit.

Love
Joy
Peace
Patience
Kindness
Goodness
Gentleness
Self-control
And Long-suffering.

And sometimes we get buried in the dark, walking along and alone in the Valley of the Shadow of Death…

And the love of God faithfully tends to our hearts. His rod and staff comfort us.

He prepares our hearts to lie down in green pastures - while restoring our souls.

He prepares us in community to stand alone, even while he lovingly guides our hearts individually - that we might remain in community.

It’s lessons like these I’m humbled to learn while trying to tie tiny supports together for close to a hundred seedlings in my kitchen today.