Planting and Watching

Narrative and insight

The dogs rudely escorted me outside this morning as part of their early morning routine, but it was too late, the towel in the kennel was already damp. It was nice to be outside though. The sun was just over the horizon, the birds still sung in desperate attempt to drown out the sound of the lawnmower my neighbor methodically pushed across his lawn.

I walked over to the front step and sat. I marveled at my plants. A week ago, I had completely given up on growing flowers there when I had pulled the sun-crisped sprouts from the ground. In their place I planted Green Pepper, Squash, Tomato, and Green Onion. The Squash and Tomato patches were teaming with little life, but leaves and bud above the rest stood a Morning Glory stock. The Green Pepper and Onion patches had no signs of life.

At first, I felt rather helpless. Nothing I could do would bring them to life if they have life; digging in the soil would only harm them if they did have life. After my initial feelings of helplessness had passed, I realized the error of those emotions. My task is to plant, water, and pull weeds where needed. I did that. My task is complete. I am not the judge of who sprouts and overtakes the others or who will climb the lattice or who will spread and provide fruit or nourishment for the others. I may never see the sprouts come out of the ground or the fruit ripen. My task is simply to plant as many seeds as I can, water the ground where it is parched, and wait for the One who has control to do His work.

Maybe He will even let me watch.