Gleanings From Nature: Laying in the Dirt

Well, it’s April and the schizophrenic weather in Denver continues. A few days of sunshine then a snowstorm, maybe some rain…As crazy as it is, I have not been deterred in my quest to plant my vegetable garden. During one of the warmer spells, I was able to get out and sow some of the cool season veggies that laugh in the face of frost and icy temperatures. As I knelt on the soil, I took the tiny seeds of the radishes, broccoli and spinach, as well as the relatively gigantic peas, and laid them in the softened earth. I watered the future plants and put down mulch to keep them warm feeling proud of the environment I was giving them. I was looking forward to and anticipating the life that would spring out of the ground due to my care. 

About the same time, as many Coloradan gardeners know, I had to start my delicate warm season veggies inside. I got out my peat pots and potting soil and with the same attention I gave to my outdoor plants, I kindly laid my tomato seeds into their temporary home. I watered them and put them under the shop lights in the warm garage feeling proud of the environment I was giving them.

After 10 days or so, I was able to see signs of life in my outdoor garden; tiny radish sprouts were erupting through the dirt. They were surviving and thriving in the midst of a harsh April storm without any help from me. The tomatoes on the other hand, were nowhere to be found. I looked at the pots for the next few days waiting for something, anything to happen. Finally, I brought them inside for additional warmth and eventually I was the proud father of 10 sprouts, roughly 50% of what I planted.

I suddenly had an epiphany, granted it shouldn’t have been one, but it was none the less. I cannot create life! I can provide a perfect habitat and environmental conditions, but I can’t make that seed grow. Try it some time, put a seed on the table and tell it to grow. Cut off the seed coat and coax the embryo out; it won’t work.  The same can be said of us. In Romans 12:1-2, Paul tells us that the one responsibility we have is to “present our bodies as a living sacrifice...” We are to be available to God, all in, without control. Why? So God can “transform us by the renewing of our minds.” Only God has the power to change us, to give us life. To think we can do this in our own power is ludicrous. Just like those seeds I planted, the best I can do with my life is put it in front of God and allow Him to grow me. 

Paul helps the Galatians have this same epiphany in chapter 3 of his letter to them when he says “O foolish Galatians who has bewitched you?...Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit are you now being perfected in the flesh?” Like the Galatians, I am often foolish, thinking I can live and grow without God. I need to be more like that seed, laying in the dirt, letting God raise me into a healthy, productive creation.

By C Sampson

Gleanings From Nature: White Noise

Have you ever been in an office during a power outage? It is almost impossible to realize how much noise there is in an office until there is no electricity. Printers, computers, HVAC equipment and other electronic devices are constantly emitting low hums that our ears tune out. But in the moment they stop receiving power, you realize what quiet actually means. There is an almost eerie stillness that fills the air when the sound waves stop. For me, the first few minutes can be unnerving. I have become so accustomed to the vibrations that I feel very alone, or even vulnerable, when they cease. I become more aware of sounds, a dripping faucet, a cough, a falling pencil…I realize how much I have missed because I didn’t hear.

A night outside, away from the city can provide this same benefit. When I get beyond the traffic, conversations, and construction I can suddenly hear. What better environment to talk to God in? I know that I am often easily distracted when I pray because I am not getting into a good physical location. Jesus showed us the importance of clearly hearing and talking to the Father. When Jesus knew that His time on earth was coming to an end, He wanted to talk to the Father and express His anguish. He was already in the company of His closest followers and in a reverent celebration of Passover, which one might think was the perfect place to be to talk to God. Yet, He decided to leave the upper room, go outside the city of Jerusalem, and seek time with the Father in the garden of Gethsemane; He got away from the noise and into nature. 

God desires a close relationship with us, and hopefully we want the same. But, how strong can a relationship be with poor communication? I would challenge you this week, if you’ve been feeling distracted or like God isn’t speaking, to try and get out and away from the clatter. There is a good chance that He has been reaching out to you all along, but His still, small voice was impossible to hear over the fax machines of life.

By C Sampson

Gleanings From Nature: Restoration Projects

On a recent visit to my local river I observed several out of place objects-a bulldozer, excavator, pick-up trucks…  The natural area looked, and still looks, like a construction zone rather than a serene wildlife area. Seeing this sight would have struck fear and anger into many nature loving people.  Prompting questions like “Are they developing the park?” “Is something unsafe?” “Why would they destroy this area?” Yet when I (one of those nature loving people) looked at the vehicles I saw hope, purpose, and a future.  Why the difference….it’s all in perspective

I was already aware of the park management’s restoration activities. You see, the river historically had streamflows high enough to support a 100’ wide streambed and surrounding riparian area. But, after decades of water diversion projects for flood control and human use, the river can now only support a bed around 40’ wide. This is readily apparent when you look down at the river and see that it is only a couple inches deep in many areas. The river can no longer perform its function. So, the park is working to decrease channel width and subsequently deepen and increase streamflows which should improve the overall health of the ecosystem.

As I thought about this scenario, I realized it is a great metaphor for trials in our lives. Sometimes God uses heavy machinery to reshape us, to restore our function and relationship with Him, or to improve our overall spiritual health. Imagine being a beaver living on that river. What would you think seeing all the excavation done to your home? I imagine it would be quite frightening. Why? Because you would have no perspective, no view of the plan. It can feel this way with God, too. His ways are above ours and many times we cannot see the big picture, only the immediate difficulties and pain. The book of Job provides a great Biblical proof of this. Job needed to learn more about who he was and who God was. God allowed Satan to take Job to the breaking point so that he could come to a fuller knowledge of God. As a reader, we see God’s plan, but Job had no idea why this was happening. He had to trust that God is who He says He is.

So the next time life isn’t puppies and candy canes, remember that confused beaver, remember Job, and remember God. You are likely in the middle of one of God’s great restoration projects. 

By C Sampson 

You Cannot Imagine

What is the most brilliant, massive, overwhelming way you could imagine the vastness and greatness and holiness of God?  We have so many descriptors in Scripture, which include light and fire and thunder.  Then there is the descriptive truth of God as the Creator, creating everything that exists.  He merely spoke all the stars that exist, into existence.  Wow.

About a year ago, I came across a phrase that attempts to capture this magnitude.  “Majesty as brilliant as a billion stars.”  What would a billion stars, all put together as one, look like, or feel like?  How bright and majestic would that be?  If you could really capture that picture in your imagination, it would fall short of the brilliance of the glory of God. The greatest of our imaginations are not enough to get it right.

On Saturday nights in the past, we’ve talked about how pondering the vastness of God can make us feel distant from Him.  However, it should not.  The same Bible that tells us of the vastness of God in His holiness and glory, also tells us about His close intimacy with His creation, and especially those He calls His children.  The One who speaks quietly into the hearts of you who know Him is the One who can’t be described even by the brilliance of a billion stars.  Not sure you should trust Him with your life, or particular parts of it?  Think about who and what He is.

By the way, this phrase comes from a great song by the David Crowder Band.  Here are the lyrics:

David Crowder Band – After All (Holy)

I can't comprehend your infinitely beautiful and perfect love
Oh I've dreamed dreams of majesty as brilliant as a billion stars
But they're never bright enough after all

You are Holy
Oh Holy
Holy, Holy, Holy

I will sing a song for you my God with everything I have in me
But it's never loud enough after all

You are Holy
Oh Holy
Holy, Holy, Holy

Heaven and earth are full, full of your glory, glory
My soul it overflows full of your glory, your glory
Oh blessed is he who reigns, full of your glory, your glory
My cup, it can't contain all of your glory, your glory
Hosanna we are found after all you are

Holy
Oh Holy
Holy, Holy, Holy

I can't comprehend
You're infinitely beautiful

Awesome song.  This Saturday night, it just might reappear for a moment… 

Why Wander Around A Graveyard?

Reflections On Easter, 2013.  Saturday night, we looked at some questions that were asked of the followers of Jesus, after He had raised from the dead.  These men and women were confused and frightened after seeing their Lord put to death, and when they found Jesus gone from the tomb, they were even more confused, frustrated, frightened, and perhaps angry.  In the midst of all this, several questions were posed to them.  Questions were often the way Jesus focused His people back to what mattered, and these questions were no different.

The central question was asked of the women who went to the tomb, to finish the burial preparations on the body of Jesus.  An angel asks, “Why are you seeking the living from among the dead?” (Luke 24:5)  This question sheds light on so many things.

They were not seeking the living.  They were, in fact, seeking the dead.  What they thought they were looking for, they could not find, because the dead body they were after didn’t exist.  Finding things as they were, with no dead body, didn’t clear up the confusion, frustration, anger and fear.  It added to it.

Imagine.  The greatest event in the history of the world had taken place, and those closest to it were confused and afraid.  Things were bad enough when He died, but now, what they had expected to find in the grave was gone. 

So why did Jesus allow this?  If I knew something like this was going to happen to me, I would tell my son everything that would take place, step by step, right before the event, so that when he saw it happen, he would be encouraged, not discouraged, frustrated, angry and afraid.  Jesus told His followers some of what would take place, but not in a way that they could easily see and understand, while they were witnessing it.  Why?  Doesn’t that seem mean?

I believe that at least part of the answer is, because messiness is how life is in this world of sin.  Because Jesus’ followers would continue to not understand things, and look for the wrong things, and be confused and frightened.  This was one of many lessons.

It happens to us today, doesn’t it?  We are looking at our circumstances, wanting for something, or even looking to God for something, but what we are seeing is not what we were seeking, not what we expected, not what we hoped for.  So, the natural reaction is often to get confused, frustrated, angry, and fearful.  But, if we are followers of Christ, we know God is working things for our good, for our benefit.  (Romans 8:28-29)  So, during these times when God is working in significant ways, we can be hopeful, optimistic, and full of wonder.  We can walk with Christ, trusting Him.

Those closest to Jesus were rocked by the greatest event in human history.  I’m sure I would have been too.  However, we have the opportunity to learn from their situations, as well as so many of our own.  Trust Him, walk in Him, set your focus on eternal things, not the things that don’t really satisfy us.  Watch for God working in His ways, not our ways.