Seasons
As the cool of winter fades into the warmth of spring, I am not sure what brings me more joy. It could be that after what seemed like a winter that lasted forever, I am able to feel the warmth of the sun on my skin again.
Either that or the fact that I getto start gardening. I am not sure when I fell in love with gardening, but it has become one of the most therapeutic things I do with my time. If nothing else, gardening has taught me a few life lessons.
Break for better
Ecclesiastes chapter 3, verses 1-8 is an abiding lesson for me that keeps me going.
It helps us make sense of the ever changing, ever evolving cycle of life.
Understanding seasons is understanding that nothing lasts forever, not winter, not spring, not sorrow nor joy. But there is much joy to be discovered when we do get a break.
A friend of mine shared recently that perhaps the reason why we get so excited about “what is to come '' is because we get a break from our “usual”. For example, most children get excited about going back to school because of summer break.
Though the high tide of Christmas soon drains us, we look forward to it every year simply because we had a break. A break from the excessive ads, commercialized practices and over emphasis of what it really means. Breaks make it better.
Comfort kills
I may argue that the true joy is not merely in getting a break from the mundane, but having something different to look forward to. We all want more. We were not built to settle or even truly be satisfied. Being too comfortable is the enemy of progression.
Room for growth
My bokchoy this season reminded me of this truth. Familiarity is not always our friend and comfort can kill. My husband and I sowed seeds early in the spring, then left for vacation. When we got back, we noticed the bok choy were growingbut they were really clustered together and not getting very big.
After talking with my dad who also enjoys gardening and knows much more about growing vegetables than I do,he explained to me that the veggies would not thrive the way they were because they needed room. He said if you want them to grow, you will need to dig them up and transplant them with more in between spaces so they can thrive.
A death sentence?
After we transplanted the veggies, I noticed that they looked like they were dying. I was sad and thought to myself, “I know my dad knows what he’s talking about but this time he may have been wrong, what if I transplant them and now everything will die?”
For a few days, I watched the plants fight to establish their roots before they shed the dried leaves and started springing new fresh growth. They were alive and now they were blooming bigger and better than ever before.
Give yourself time
Sometimes because of familiarity, company and comfort, we stay where we are longer than we should. Maybe it’s your hometown, your family home, and even though you are literally stifling, you don't move because of fear of the unknown.
But let’s say you do move. New territory and starting over can be hard and it may take a while to find your footing and may feel like you are about to die. Psalm chapter 30, verse 3 highlights being brought back from the realm of the dead but then there was verse 5 - joy does come. What if we held on a little longer and gave ourselves grace to find our footing?
Sometimes you need room to grow. Sometimesyou need space, you can find your place in this world, to establish yourself and thrive. And sometimes, it is away from what you know.
Thrive
While family, friends, familiarity are all beautiful and of good comfort, comfort is the enemy of growth. It’s okay to move away to grow. I imagine that with all the shame the prodigal son must have felt (Luke chapter 15, verses 11-32),he experienced growth just by virtue of moving away from home.
There were lessons he learnt when he was on his own that perhaps he wouldn’t have been able to learn in the comfort of his home and with the blanket of his family.
It requires strength and courage but, make the move. You will feel like you are dying but you will live. It may feel lonely, but you can thrive. The truth is you are never alone (Matthew chapter 28, verse 20B).
Give yourself the room you need, so you can grow. Step out of your comfort zone, step out into the unknown. The best thing about the future is, even though we cannot see it, we can trust the one who is already there.
So, what are you waiting for? There is so much more room to grow.