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A mid-week word from Pastor Darren...
See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springs up to trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.
–Hebrews 12:15
He replied, 'Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots.’
–Matthew 15:13
Dear APUMC Family,
This week has reminded me of what a good teacher creation can be. With the promise of spring now entering into bloom, the signs of new life are all around.
When you come to our church campus, you may notice that several staff and volunteers have made considerable contributions of time and talent in the beautification of our campus in recent days. I am so grateful!
The new design of our fellowship parlor is a tremendous development in our efforts toward greater hospitality. Likewise, our courtyards and other grounds are receiving the kind of attention that speaks well of our stewardship of God’s gifts, our love for this church and for each other.
One of the great things about life at APUMC is that each of us are already commissioned to engage in this work for the common good. If you are wondering what it takes to use your gifts in this body, rest assured that it is not complicated; but it is collaborative. The chance to work on these projects together can make a difference that far outlasts the actual shrubs or accent pillows.
As some of you know, I grew up in Ft. Walton Beach, FL. When Spring Break approached on the calendar, my mother would routinely seize my days off of school to tackle the list of projects she had envisioned for our modest yard at 8 Brighton Court. Mom would start planting those seeds of expectation in my mind in February, so by the time the week came I barely questioned it.
With limited options, those flower beds and walkways become the places where I learned a variety of life skills–patience, resilience, some sense of work ethic, and how to make the most of it when conditions are less than ideal. As her youngest child and only son, I was also eager to discover the things I could do physically that she could not. Moving from childhood to adolescnce, that was a big deal to me.
Looking back, it took me a while to realize that not all of my classmates had this custom–that some of them, in fact, (all of them, in my mind) were actually at the beach! As I got older, I am certain that I raised an objection or two about this ‘cruel and unusual’ tradition of ours. But now, of course, I would not trade those experiences for all the Caribbean cruises in the world.
I suppose I had little choice but to learn how to work with my mother rather than against her. It was a pain, naturally, and I’m sure I was one, too. Mother persevered, though, which set us both up for a much better relationship in the end. Sure, I might have wailed and moaned at the time. But she handled it. And now I say, thank you, Mom, for ruining my Spring Break year after year.
Earlier this week, several volunteers gathered together to work in the yard at a new Habitat for Humanty home for Crystal Roberts and her son, AJ. I was excited to get out there. Why is it so much more enjoyable to do yard work at someone else’s house? I expected to be laying sod, but it was clear to me that the land was not quite ready for that. No problem.
For several hours, I toiled over a section of about 100 square feet with a couple of others and pulled roots out of the ground. We would pull one, and then find another, and another, and so on. Sure, the area had been bulldozed. It looked clear enough on the surface. But at just an inch or two deep, there were all kinds of obstacles to growth and new life. If we had tried to ignore it and just cover it up with sod, I doubt it would have survived the summer.
It was hard work, but well worth it, I believe. Every time the effort was made to untangle the root and remove it from the ground, there was always rich soil underneath, just waiting to be revealed. We trusted that others would come after us to build upon our efforts, which they did. I am glad that our friend, Crystal, did not try to do this work all by herself. Christian community is a beautiful thing.
Again, this is where nature can often point to spiritual truth. Jesus warned us about sowing seed upon inhospitable ground (Matt. 13:6-7). But what if that is the reality of the land you have to live with?
We are nearing the end of Lent, friends, and you need not finish this journey alone. This Sunday we will be waving palms and watching our children hunt easter eggs. The week after that we will be singing our alleluias and capturing images of Easter with our friends and family. It will be beautiful, I am sure.
If we desire this Easter to be truly transformative, however, it might require something else. If we expect those fresh seeds of hope to actually have a chance at real growth, then there is still a deeper work of preparation to be addressed. As the Church, we are called to some consistency in this ‘spiritual tilling,’ in the breaking of old ground for the sake of the new.
So I ask you…
What do you expect to spring up in you in this season? How is the soil of your soul? Are there other elements that are getting in the way? How difficult is it to keep covering them up? How much time, energy, and money do you have left to spend on something that is not working? If (and when) the Lord does come to pull up our misplaced roots, what then?
Yes, the grass withers and the flower fades. But the Word of the Lord endures forever (Isaiah 40:8).
Why is that, do you suppose?
Yours,
Darren
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