The Growers

For a while now, I’ve noticed a little patch beside a parking lot that is mulched over and has a dead bush in the middle of it.

Why did I notice this? Well, I’m odd like that, I guess.

This morning, someone at church asked me if I noticed the two different hues of light bulbs overhead in the back hallway. Nope.

But I noticed this poor excuse for a flower bed.

I’ve wondered why they didn’t just take the bush out. It isn’t that great. If they wanted a flower bed, there are better ways to make one: maybe by planting some flowers there.

Then a couple of weeks ago, what had been an ugly “bush bed” was now bursting with life.

I looked closer and realized that underneath the fabric barrier; and under the ridiculous amount of mulch were bulbs just waiting for warmth.

I don’t know what kind of flowers these are, but they overcame the darkness of the soil, the taut, staked-down strength of the weed barrier, and the piled-high mulch. They broke through the fabric, with the landscape fabric still hanging on to the healthy deep green leaves, trying to keep it down.

Why did these flowers prevail? Because it was their time. It was inscribed in the framework of each cell to grow right here, right now.

The bulbs detected the warmth of the sun in the soil. The provision of spring rain seeped down to where they were embedded in the earth. Nutrients furnished the cells with fuel to multiply. They were conscious of the change in season. So they naturally did what they were supposed to do. They started growing.

There was no darkness too enveloping. There was no soil enclosed too tightly around them. There was no barrier too strong. There was no mulch piled too high. And honestly, they used all of this to their advantage.

This is what happens when life takes hold of something.

May it be that way for you. You might be in a season of dormancy when things don’t seem to be flourishing in your life. But your time will come.

And when it’s your time. Oh, when the seasons of life start to change in your favor. When life starts to spring forth in your heart and mind.
Even though there may be obstacles still at work to obstruct your progress.

I hope you grow. And grow beyond your wildest dreams.

to those who won’t give up,
– Caleb