Stratified

I have heard it said that “Time flies when you’re having fun.” For me, that is especially true this time of year. My geranium seed mix has germinated nicely. I have noticed when starting a seed mix that some seeds germinate in as little as 5 days. Other seeds in that same mix take as long fourteen days to germinate. My experience has been that the seeds first to emerge are the dominate colors. In the case of geraniums, it appears that the coral red color germinates first while the white or light pink colors were the late comers.

People have asked me if I had a secret to starting flowers, trees, or shrubs from seed. My answer is “Not really but some may have to be soaked, scarred or stratified.” Then comes the next question, “What does that mean?” Stratification, scarification, and soaking are three basic methods that mimic weather conditions in nature. These methods “trick” the seeds into coming out of dormancy and encourage them to begin to grow. Basically, the seed coats are softened by soaking, exposed to cold (stratified,) or scratched
with something like file (scarification.) Some seeds like Bishop Pine and Sargent Cypress have closed cones that require heat like that of a wild fire to open. In other words, some seeds need stress before they can grow.

“Consider it nothing but joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials. Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace]. And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed [in your faith], lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4

I heard a crazy story the other day. I overheard an employer discussing an issue he had with one of his Christian employees. One of the ladies on his team was treating her coworkers rudely and down right mean. The reason? Her favorite football team lost their game the night before… Seriously? Yes, I swear it is true. My first thought was “Wow! You shouldn’t be angry; you should be rejoicing!” When a person gets upset over something insignificant like a football game it tells me something. It tells me that person has never had any real problems. It tells me they have never been in a bankruptcy court. It tells me they have never been told by their doctor, “There is no recovering from this.” It tells me that they have not experienced someone walking into their work place and announce in front of all their coworkers that their vehicle was being impounded. I know these things are true because I have lived each and every one of these examples.

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart, my portion forever.” Psalm 73:26

My heart then broke and my next thought was, “God help her.” I do not wish bad things on people, but, I have been on this planet long enough to know that life happens to all of us. The enemy hates us all equally and his sole purpose is to kill and destroy us. (John 10:10) Why? Because we are made in the image of God and he hates God. He knows he can not defeat the One True God so he roams around looking for ways to keep us from the great commission. (Matthew 28:19-20)

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”
1 Peter 5:8

Just as a soldier goes through boot camp before being deployed; so we also must train, study and prepare ourselves for spiritual battle. We live in troubled times, my friends. Some of us have already been cast out in the cold, soaked, scarred, and thrown into the fire. If we plant ourselves in the rich soil of the promises of Gods Word we shall emerge from the dirt and trials of this life. We will grow into a mighty army. We shall become a powerful force to be reckoned with. Our victory and peace is found in faith in Jesus Christ and in Him only. When we do our part to really know Him we shall have all the strength we will ever need. Small things we slide off us like Teflon and we shall not be shaken.

“I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” John 16:33