Time to Grow Up

It’s a lazy, drizzly Sunday afternoon here at the ranch, one of those kinds of days that easily could use an investment in a nap. As I sit typing this, and behind me on a multi-shelved rack, is a recent project; I’ve taken on an experiment of growing almost 200 Ponderosa Pine (Pinus Ponderosa) trees from seeds. During our Christmas tree outing after last Thanksgiving, I picked up some pine cones near Ochoco Pass. I’ve never done this before but I dried out the cones and harvested the seeds from their interior. 

 

They say the best time to plant a tree was 30 years ago, and the second-best time is today. Some have thought my efforts at growing seeds and planting trees a fool’s errand. After all, I’m an old man now and I’ll surely never see these Ponderosa’s in their regal glory. It turns out, I’m not planting them for me, I’m planting them for the future, that another generation may see their regal glory.

 

Looking over my shoulder, the seeds have begun to sprout. The seedlings have found their way through the potting soil and have begun their reach toward the window. They’re kind of cute and chock full of promise. Their delicate fronds look like miniature green drink umbrellas. It’s kind of funny, but I find myself checking on ‘my babies’ with too-frequent regularity.

 

In the book of Genesis, God’s creative fiat is seen in the newly-created world, teeming with vivacity and vitality…all around, it’s life on steroids. In fact, much of the initial Genesis narrative takes place within a verdant garden, created by God (and ex nihilo no less!), and tended by the world’s first man and woman.  There’s something about new life and a garden that warrants God’s approbation (Genesis 1:12) in the Genesis story. Growing these seeds into young trees has got me thinking about God’s creative fiat and the Christian life.

 

When seeds are planted by a gardener, the intention is that they will grow. For every farmer that plants a crop, he looks forward to an autumn harvest. In the Bible, the garden motif is strong.  In fact, Jesus uses the gardener analogy with frequency (Mt. 13, Jn. 15). The crucifixion took place in a garden (Jn. 19), and, post-resurrection, Jesus was even mistaken for a gardener (John 20). In many ways God’s posture toward His people is that of a master gardener. Psalm 1 speaks of God’s righteous one as being like a tree, planted by water, and yielding fruit. Even the essential work of the Holy Spirit in every Christian is classified as ‘fruit.’ 

 

When the Apostle Paul writes to the Ephesian church, he encourages them to ‘grow up’ into Christ, and the point he is making is a good one. He is encouraging the Ephesian believers to mature, to take seriously their call to grow from seedlings to strong trees that stand tall. They are to grow up into Christ, and slowly but surely take on the regal familial resemblance of their Lord and Savior. For the Christian, God is a gardener, and by the effectual advocacy and work of the Holy Spirit, He’s telling each one of us (like the Ponderosa Pine seeds planted in fresh, damp soil), it’s time to grow up. 

 

         

    

 

Dan and Judy Morse live near Prineville, Oregon. Over the years Dan has done bi-vocational work, church planting, and served as a senior pastor in several churches. He now serves with InFaith, a ministry that assists small and rural churches. He can be reached at danjmorse@icloud.com