Hi everyone,
So this weather has been very unpredictable, and it’s been tough trying to grow the plants and grass that we’ve been trying to grow. I mean, we’re super novices at the whole gardening thing to begin with, but the strange weather patterns definitely have not made it easy.
I mean we read that some rain is good, but not too much rain. And sun is good of course for some plants, but it’s been so sporadic all season so far. And don’t even get me started on the soil types and pH balance and so on and so forth. I’m just glad that my wife does most (ok, all) of it as it’s really over my head. I was starting to think that we’ll have to write this year off and just look and plan ahead for next year when hopefully the weather would be more in our favour.
But then the other day, I saw it. One of the sunflowers that were planted a long time ago actually looked like a sunflower. Like it had yellow petals and everything. It was wild. I never thought I’d be as excited as I was over a plant. I never thought I’d care so much about something that I had no idea how to care for.
I never thought that I’d be filled with such a hope that I felt.
Here are the readings for next week:
Lamentations 3:22-33
Psalm 30
2 Corinthians 8:7-15
Mark 5:21-43
I see these texts talking about that hope that I was referring to with my sunflower story. From all that God provides, from all the peace and mercy that we receive, from the healing that comes from our faith, I see hope.
Even when circumstances are so out of our control. Even when things remain so unpredictable. Even in the face of death. There is hope.
Hope in knowing who holds the future. Hope in seeing our connection to creation and each other. Hope in the life that truly is life, graciously given to us all.
At a time in history when things seem to be changing so much, may we cling to this hope we have through our faith, that we might be raised up in joy and appreciation for all that God has done, is doing, and will continue to do for us, through us, and around the world.
Thanks be to God! Have a great week, everyone!
Photo by Michelle Francisca Lee on Unsplash