Walking This Season
Adventures are exciting, fun…thrilling. Maybe a little unknown; maybe breathtaking. What first sparked the idea of adventure for you? What beckoned you from routine to the “edge?”
Or maybe you don’t like being away from home, your adventure is observation; reflection. What calls you to the quiet reflective moments where you step out of the normal mindset and into a kingdom one?
What draws us out of our shells and into the wonderment we once held as children?
I’ve always wanted to have an adventure—I never thought I would. The unexpected risky thing was admirable but intangible.
I used to jump (if I even waited that long) at the opportunity to explore, roam, travel and be fascinated with all things new. Toes in the dirt-wind in my hair- completely unaware or in denial of danger. There was an uncaged beauty in the experience of life and places I hadn’t yet seen.
For me, it wasn’t one thing or one event that sparked my interest in adventure; it was built in me to begin with.
Over the years the pressure to be “enough” to everyone; responsible enough, adult enough, together enough…wore at me. I slowly caged the wonder to fit in to perceived expectation.
But God…
I wanted the world to like me and see my value…but God already knew it.
While I was packing the wonder into a corner and exchanging it for a nod of approval…my heavenly father was feeling deep sorrow at the loss of an avenue of joy for me.
But God redeems, restores, heals and brings to life all that this world tries to take away.
Life is precious; a gift. As much as we understand this and long for deep love, He longs for it more. We cannot out-love God. The relationship we seek with God? He desires one with more depth than we can comprehend.
I traveled to see family this week and God met me every single turn of the way. I have more to write about than I can possibly put down and I am overwhelmed. Today we start with fruit.
Even when you’re far from home, groceries become a necessity. I am much further south than home and the temperature was a full thirty degrees warmer. Back into summer clothes!
I was browsing the produce section and was shocked to find a pound of strawberries for 77 cents. This is less than half price of what they would be in-season where I live. I come from an amazing valley full of agriculture and bounty…yet quickly I was wishing oranges and strawberries were a year-round occurrence at home.
How much difference location can make!
It made me think about all the different things that are grown around the world; how I really take advantage of the grocery store having whatever I need in one place. More than this…how I don’t eat certain kinds of apples from the store because I live in an area that produces them. I have become accustomed to the taste so much so that I prefer them off the tree and can name a few varieties by taste alone. I live in an area blessed by apple harvest.
Here in the southwest…avocados and citrus is this way. You can eat a fresh grapefruit off the tree and not need a bit of sugar. Oranges are filled with sweet juice and a depth of flavor almost floral.
We ship all of these things all over the world, but in order to do that, fruit gets picked early, stored long, and travel-worn.
Location matters.
This is also true of our lives. Location matters. Season matters. Even the beautiful type of tree you are matters.
In my farming community, a seed is planted indoors in January to give it time to grow before May when it will be transplanted outside. It’s grown in a safe and warm environment. Perfect temperature, perfect light, perfect nutrition.
And so are we. Carefully created; crafted and designed with pure joy and delight for who we are. Protected with the perfect environment and given time to grow and form before we are born.
We are born and we grow. Just like seedlings we are cared for by others, until we are old enough to start out on our own.
When the plants reach a certain height and weather permits…they are moved outdoors. You cannot just plant them and leave them though, they still need strengthening. They have no roots and no ability to withstand weather or even slight breeze.
The one tending them needs to put a stake in the ground and tie the plant to it.
When I first started to discover freedom, I was ready to dive into adventure and discover all that God had for me. I had felt the spark; the calling and I was ready to find out what that meant.
It felt like the deepest breath of fresh air I had ever experienced. I was transplanted to new ground and ready to grow.
*But I was not yet strong enough to withstand the storms that come.
He knows this, He knows us. He sent the right messages and the right people for me to lean on. Stronger plants with deep roots became stakes for me to hold on to in the storms. I couldn’t weather the wind and rain on my own, but we have community, sisters and brothers in Christ, to lean on for support. He doesn’t abandon us to the elements once we say yes.
We are being tested so we can withstand—prepared and supported so that our roots can reach deep.
And when we are finally rooted and strong, then our season will come and we will truly be able to bear fruit that will call to others.
But the fruit I bear, my purpose, it may not be the same as those I have leaned on for so long. I lean on them and grow…but I must remember that He created us unique. I was never meant to become the same as those I look up to. If I want to know more about myself, I have to ask the one who created me.
And stepping even further out…where I am planted matters too. I cannot fulfill my purpose by wishing I was growing anywhere else. There is timing and planning in this. The soil where I am contains the nutrients I need to grow deep roots in my father’s love. I cannot become more or do more by being somewhere else.
God may transplant me when the season is over, to prepare me for next year and keep the harvest bountiful…but for now, where I am is where I need to be.
Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.
-Isaiah 40:28 (ESV)
God carefully created and crafted each one of us, He has plans for us, He plants us. He cultivates and grows what He put in each one of us; our purpose. Even if you’re thinking you don’t have one…you would be wrong. You may not know fully what the Lord put in you even before the foundations of this world…but He does; and He wants you to know.
You are planted and cared for. He is growing you strong through trials; but not cruelly. We need to grow our roots deep in the word during these times and all times…growing strong and building character and strengthening our God-relationship.
When we are strong we can step out to adventures and find unending joy with the One who created us. To play with the Lord and delight in all he’s done and where we have come from. To look back in abounding gratitude for the gentle, compassionate way He prepares and walks us through things.
Just like plants loose leaves to hail, wind, or animals…we scar. Life is hard on us. But if our roots are deep, we will withstand. If we fall over in heavy rain, He will replant us and support us. It’s really about the process of learning to trust the farmer.
This is the adventure. Learning, growing, asking, seeking…falling.
It’s time to get started.
