Common Ground
One of the highlights of my week comes every Thursday. That is the day I meet with my Master Gardening buddies at a city park. We are currently in the process of developing a public teaching garden. This year we completed the landscape around the water feature. We also planted a butterfly garden. The plants in this garden are Buddleia, Butterly Bush, Shasta Daisy, Asters, and Milkweed plants. You may have heard that Monarch butterflies are in danger of extinction. Monarchs are in many parts of the world. However, the migratory monarch is the most thoroughly studied because they appear to be most at risk of extinction. Monarch numbers have decreased for many reasons, such as extreme climate fluctuations in North America (freezing temperatures, heavy rain, and deforestation.) Another significant factor is the widespread loss of a plant called milkweed. Monarch young rely almost exclusively on milkweed plants for food. Urbanization and modern farm herbicides have dwindled the number of this vital monarch food source considerably.
On one particular Thursday, my friends and I got to see the reward of our labor. Munching away on our milkweed plants were dozens of chubby little monarch caterpillars. Adding to our delight were several adult monarchs flittering from flower to flower. We stood there for a long time and enjoyed the show. One adult monarch, in particular, attracted my attention. This butterfly did not seem to mind at all how close I came to her. It was if she knew that I was not there to hurt her. I followed my little friend across the garden to a cluster of Will Rogers Zinnias. The bright red color of the blossom was stunning against the black and orange of the monarch's delicate wings. But then, something even more amazing happened.
Landing on the same flower, right next to the monarch, was a bee. Thankfully I was able to grab my phone and snap a picture. I thought to myself, "What a picture indeed…"
"Out of the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. These things, my brothers, should not be this way [for we have a moral obligation to speak in a manner that reflects our fear of God and profound respect for His precepts]. Does a spring send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh. James 3:10-12 (AMP)
Fall has always been one of my favorite seasons. The gardens and containers I have labored over throughout the summer have finally arrived at their peak flowering. There is less watering and weeding to do and a chance to sit back and enjoy God's creation. But, this fall in the United States finds a different feel in the air. The refreshing mild temperature of the evening does not have that same welcoming break from the summer heat. Instead, it has a chill and hint of the anxiety of, "What will happen in our nation tonight…and where will it happen?"
I refuse to get into a political debate on issues. I believe, as Jesus' followers, that we should be leading the way by sitting down peaceably and working out our differences like civil adults.
The fact is these troubling times we live in are no surprise to the One True God and maker of the universe.
His Word is full of warnings:
"But understand this, that in the last days dangerous times [of great stress and trouble] will come [difficult days that will be hard to bear]. For people will be lovers of self [narcissistic, self-focused], lovers of money [impelled by greed], boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane, [and they will be] unloving [devoid of natural human affection, calloused and inhumane], irreconcilable, malicious gossips, devoid of self-control [intemperate, immoral], brutal, haters of good.." 2 Timothy 3:1-3 (AMP)
I rarely listen to the news these days. It's not because I don't want to know what is happening around me, but because the truth is usually tainted and vague. We have become a society that jumps to conclusions based solely on a people group, occupation, race, religion, or political party. I understand how the enemy has blinded the eyes of non-believers. But my heart is sick that the children of The King of Kings have grown so deaf to God's Word and His voice that we can not hear His call to reach the lost.
"… You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16 (MSG)
And so the choice is ours, my friends. We can conform and go along with the crowd. We can cease to obey God's commands, become angry and bitter, and then watch as the world around us is torn apart. The term "Christians" and "Christianity" would become virtually extinct in our nation..and all that we hold dear will be lost. Or, we can dig deeper into God's Word. His Word and His Word alone is our sole source of spiritual food…we cannot and will not survive without it. What would our Lord Jesus do?… I think deep down, we all know that answer.
Let's stand in the boldness that His Holy Spirit gives us and focus our hearts and minds on the souls of people. Let us pursue with a vengeance the commission that our Savior gave us. Instead of just going to church, let us be The Church going out to our communities and reaching the lost, the hurting, and the angry.
There are many plants and flowers that make up a beautiful garden. Landscape architects agree the key to a great design is a diversity of texture, color, balance, and a common focal point.
As Jesus followers, let us stay focused on the Great Commission of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Let us live in harmony with each other so that we can be the light in the darkness.
"Therefore if there is any encouragement and comfort in Christ [as there certainly is in abundance], if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship [that we share] in the Spirit, if [there is] any [great depth of] affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, having the same [a]love [toward one another], knit together in spirit, intent on one purpose [and living a life that reflects your faith and spreads the gospel—the good news regarding salvation through faith in Christ]." Philippians 2:1-2 (AMP)