By C Sampson
Well, here we are heading into the final stretch of summer
and looking forward to autumn. School
has started and the weather is cooler in the mornings, the Earth is heading
towards its less productive seasons. As I look back on the past spring and
summer I am struck by the activity of growth.
I see it in my daughters, both of whom started some semblance of
schooling this year. I see it in my
garden, where the early season veggies are gone and the late summer and fall
crops are full sized plants rather than miniscule seeds filling the palm of my
hands. I see it in the kitten we
adopted who gets bigger and crazier every day.
I see it in me.
Growth can be measured in many ways-physical size and
strength, knowledge, depth of relationship… It is an interesting
phenomenon. Though it seems to just
happen, it can be stymied or enhanced based upon the environment it occurs in
and the effort poured in. Kids will
grow, but they will grow better with good food, sleep, discipline, and
exercise. Plants will grow, but will do
better with water, sun, good soil, and weed removal. This is something I often forget when I think about spiritual
growth. Sometimes I get frustrated when
I’m not moving forward. I feel like I
should be growing because I’m reading my Bible here and there, going to church,
praying some. It’s not like I’ve become
an axe murderer or anything… And, in reality, like the seed that’s just shoved
in the ground unattended, I’m probably growing a little bit just by being in
the right environment but you will never see me thrive.
The first 2/3 of this year have been a great time of growth
for me. Why? Because it has become more
of a focus for me. It’s not about just
being there, it’s about seeking God out, pursuing Him. One of the greatest things I have been
involved in is the genesis of this new church.
The process has made me step out and commit to growing. And, with the accountability of the founding
members, I am becoming more intentional and intense in my relationship with the
Creator. I have also been able to
witness the growth of my friends as they take on new responsibilities and face
new challenges with me. We are having
deeper times of prayer, we are developing a bigger heart for others, and we are
tackling obstacles that used to be stumbling blocks.
As we head into the final 1/3 of the year, take a look back
and see how much taller you are by the presence of God. I think it’s always
good to do a spiritual measurement to see if we are still growing in
Christ. If it’s been a little slow,
it’s never too late to turn it on. Dig
into God’s Word, set aside some prayer time, and get together with some friends
to build each other up and hold each other accountable. If it’s been a good year, keep it up! In the words of Peter, continue to crave
that pure spiritual milk that helps you grow into salvation. Though nature is less productive in fall and
winter, we don’t have to be. Grow like
it’s summer.
