Seeds, Rain and the Whole Process

It let me in! I tell ya, I never know from one day to the next if the new blogger is going to allow me to post. More often than not, it's not. It's been so long since I've written anything I think people have lost interest, which is quite okay. I do this more for me than for anyone else anyway.

So, I've been digging in the dirt a lot lately and when I do that I get literally bazillions of thoughts that go through my head. All of which I'm sure would make a great blog post. But when I go to write it up - nothing. Can't get in. So let's see what I can drum up from the ol' memory banks for today.

It's raining. It's been raining a lot lately and I love that. I love rain. I love rainy days. I love the colors that come out of the rain. And I love the new growth that comes, too. I've planted some seeds this year and I'm anxious to see what happens with them. Seeds. Amazing little things. You put them in the dirt as simple little hard things and no matter what comes up it's exactly what it's supposed to be. Your seed will not pop up as some other plant. It will be what you planted.

(WARNING!! THIS POST IS GOING IN A SPIRITUAL DIRECTION!! IF YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT GOD STOP HERE.)

I hear a lot about seed planting in spiritual circles. I wonder if that's what they're talking about. Are they planting a seed thinking it will come out just as they planned for it to, or will God have his way? And if he does, will they see and accept it as his or will they think the person the seed was planted into missed it? I have been thinking a lot about how we so very often think we are the ones who "get it". "We" know the way. "We" know the truth and if you don't think like "we" do then you're wrong. It happens in lots of circles, not just spiritual but political, industrial, economic, etc. I think maybe the only circle it's not quite so rigid in is creative circles. That's the nature of creativity after all, to be different, not to follow but to lead. Now I'm thinking God was the ultimate creator. Heck, he created creativity. I know he's the same yesterday, today and tomorrow but I cannot help thinking he wants us to grow and learn and not be afraid to change some of our thinking when we receive a revelation from him that seems different than what we may have thought or been taught all our lives. This is really hard for me. I've been taught that there is one way and that is it. Now don't get me wrong. I believe Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. I'm not saying that has changed nor will it ever but I think we have limited Jesus' way, his truth and his life. And man, that is something I do not want to be guilty of - limiting God in any way. So, I figure if he wants to plant a seed and grow something bigger than I planned I need to step out of the way and let it grow. And not only allow that to happen but to encourage it and delight in it and be amazed by it and celebrate it - even if it looks completely different from anything I have seen before. Could it be that God is so much bigger than words or thoughts or ideas or deeds? Could it be his kingdom is more here around us than we can see or hear or imagine? Could it be that there is a power in and among us that we have not even remotely tapped into? I like the thought of that. I like the thought that there is so much more and that when the time is right it will be released. That gives me great hope. It excites me. It's kind of like that seed planting thing I do. It's a simple little thing but when those things break through from the dirt and begin to grow, I get excited about it. It delights me and I do, I celebrate! I talk to them. I encourage them to grow. And when the colors come - oh man - that is the good stuff.

So, today I'm going to stand back and watch the seeds that have been planted grow into what God has planned for them. He planted some seeds in the minds of some high school kids yesterday morning and those are the ones I'm talking about right now. I'm going to stand back and watch them grow and then celebrate when the color comes!