There is wonder in seed. Something we cannot understand. Life contained inside a tiny container. Hidden from the eye. Potential locked in. But it needs to go into the soil to bring forth this living treasure. It needs to be buried. Covered. Bringing life from death. When we arrived here on the farm, we had to learn everything about planting. About first preparing the soil. The hard soil, that laid bare for so long. A neighbour came to help with his tractor, to break the outer layer of hardness. We bought an old tractor. Dirk got used to the tedious work of working the soil. Preparing. You have to get your timing right. Then it is hours going slow. Breaking the surface. Breaking fine. Preparing the perfect bed for the seeds to lay in. So that they can grow strong. No hurry here. The one field he had to work nine times for it to be just right. He had to get the neighbour in to see. To feel the texture. Ready to receive the little parcels of promise... The first thing God told man to do, was to cultivate the soil. Work it, so that it can produce a harvest. We had the opportunity to experience it first hand. We laboured. First to get rid of the weeds. Then to soften the soil. Then to enrich it with organic matter and then to plant and to cover. As I think about the soil of my heart, I know God to be doing the work. Pulling out the weeds. Breaking the hard outer layer. He says in 1 Cron 29:17 (Message) that He doesn't care for the surface, but want us, our true selves. And I see in our garden the abundance that is coming if the soil is soft and loose. We put a layer of wooden chips over, to keep the moisture in and the weeds out. To produce life in the soil for food for the plant. I read the parable that Jesus told about the sower sowing seed. I let it sink in. Then He spoke about Himself. 'Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.' John 12:25. And He surrendered. Knowing what surrender had in store for Him. But Love was holding Him. Giving the trust to let it all go, so that all can be won. I meditate the Seed. He is the beginning and end. In Him is everything held. This is hope. It doesn't depend on me for it to work. This life of mine that seems to fall apart some days. This world that is in so much pain and chaos. In John 1 it says that all started in Him. The soil. The seed. Water. Light. Warmth. And life. And He, the Seed, surrendered to be buried. To die, for the harvest to come. In these days I will hold this image in my heart. Not figuring it out with my head. Not forcing it into meaning. But surrendering to this image of dying and producing life. Resurrection life. And I pray for this seed to grow strong in me and in the world. For Him to work the soil of our feeble hearts. For water and light and warmth to nurture. So that He can bring the harvest. "the harvest" And I can see there is little more for me to do. Than rest in Him. "Hiding my life in Him" Ps 61:4. Abiding in Him. Surrendering as the seed is sown and life is brought forth. Daily. This is Grace. All done for me. All done in me. All through Him.
Blessed be the Lord!
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October 2017
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