Fading Flower to Fruit-Picking Time by Peter A. Black

Apple Blossom

Courtesy: FREE Stock Photo

This morning I fell into musing about the marvels of nature, of the flowers and blossoms of spring, and the summer-through-fall season of harvesting fruit. 

How beautiful the cheerful, creamy-white apple blossom on several neighbourhood trees was this spring. Driving down a city street, elsewhere, I marvelled at several trees clad in rich burgundy cherry blossom.                                                 

I mused on how great it would be if the fruit trees could keep their blossoms all year, instead of appearing for only a short time then fading so quickly away? Fact is, flowers bloom, then their petals must fade and fall in order for fruit to develop and bear seed – a process necessary for ensuring the survival of their kind, as new trees get a start. With that kind of tree, no matter how much we love seeing and smelling the blossoms, they must fade and die before the fruit can fully develop and we get to enjoy eating it!

Cherry Blossom

Courtesy: FREE Stock pexels

A seed dies in the process of giving birth to new life. It illustrates the spiritual principle of life coming out of death. That’s the opposite of what we tend to think, in relation to the natural world. Commonly we figure that people are born, they live, and then they die. True enough.

In the realm of spiritual life, however, we are called to die to our self-life in order to live in the fulness of the life of Jesus and in the love of God. Jesus had to die on the Cross before He could rise from the dead to make new life available to those who trust in Him.

People might Ooh and Aah at the glorious sight of blossoms on trees, but do the trees puff with pride because of the praise? Of course not.When their flowers fade and fall they lose their glorious adornment.  

Sometimes segments of the Christian community experience periods during which they garner admiration in the general community, only to be cast aside when hypocrisy and failure become apparent with it; the glorious flower and verdant leaves of popularity fade and fall. Bitter fruit!

Credit: Google duty-free images

But wait, the Scriptures teach: “... the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. . . Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. . .” (Galatians 5:22-24).

Courtesy: FreeImages.com

There it is – the principle of spiritual life following spiritual death. The fruit of a life lived in the grace of Jesus under the  sunshine of God’s love produces good and pleasant fruit, regardless of our age and physical appearance. But, surely God is grieved when bitter fruit causes people to turn away from faith in Jesus.

Even sour lemons have beneficial uses and are, in fact, good fruit. A touch of honey can make quite a difference. As an old Gospel song says: There’s honey in the Rock, my brother [my sister, too]!  Jesus is our Rock.

Pensive Prayer: Dear God, even though the flower of our youth eventually fades, grant that good fruit will continue to form in our lives, as the divine harvest-gathering time draws ever near! In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Peter is a retired pastor – well, sort of retired – as he is currently engaged as an associate volunteer pastor. He lives in Southwestern Ontario with his wife, May, and writes a weekly inspirational newspaper column and occasional magazine articles. Peter is author of two books: "Parables from the Pond" (Word Alive Press) and "Raise Your Gaze . . . Mindful Musings of a Grateful Heart" (Angel Hope Publishing). He and May are also engaged in leading nursing home / residential chapel services, pulpit supply and music. ~+~

Past Easter: New Growth--Carolyn R. Wilker

Easter Sunday is past yet we’re still in the Easter season in our church, a time we consider growth and renewal. It’s fitting that Easter occurs in springtime. At least that’s my take on it, though it may not match in other parts of the globe, with climate and different seasons.

I love watching the garden come to life, with leaves opening, buds on trees and then the early flowers appearing. First the crocuses and later the tulips and daffodils. Cheery yellow daffodils and pink tulips are among my favourites. After the white chill of winter, I’m ready for colour in my garden again. And ready for the season of gardening all over again.

This past week I took some new photos of my flowerbeds and posted several on my Facebook page. Friends say, “Already?” or “Is that this year already?” and I can reply, “Yes, it is.”

Mind you, there are weeds to contend with in spring, shrubs to be cut back and some clean-up to do, but it’s all part of the package of gardening. The lawn got its first haircut, and I’ve pulled some weeds from places. My husband gave the shrubs a seasonal trim; quite a trim, I might add. Lots of room for growth there.

After rooting out the plants that are overgrown or done and replacing them with new ones, I can sit back and enjoy the refreshed garden and watch it grow further. Perennials are the easiest to grow and tend, when the plant is matched to soil and conditions. They flourish in the right place, just as we do.

Making some changes for this year, I’ll dig out a few plants where ants have built a new hill. Those busy little insects have transplanted their home across the sidewalk after we rousted out the old one last year. We have sandy soil, and ants like sand. We may not rid the garden of ants entirely and that’s okay, as long as they don’t take over. My garden will never be perfect lines and precision, only pleasing to the eye and colourful. After all, it is nature which is sometimes a little wild around the edges, just like its caretaker.

I look forward to planting the vegetable garden later this month, hopefully with the help of our two oldest granddaughters who like to dig the holes and water. We’ll have a conversation about the plants we want to grow. They’ll come by to help plant the garden and then, from time to time, for a visit and help to tend the garden—mostly with the watering can. Then we wait and watch until it’s time to harvest whatever we’ve grown.

Think of Jesus’ resurrection and the opportunity of grace that we may start fresh each day in our Christian walk. Like spring and the promise of new growth, like the routing out of things that don’t serve our purpose anymore. Maybe not a brand new purpose, since we may have already believed and hoped in the risen Christ, but a renewal of sorts, like the earth giving forth new life.

www.carolynwilker.ca

photos by C. Wilker

Strong Roots for Supple Limbs (by Peter A. Black)

Who in Southwestern Ontario (and most of Southern Canada, perhaps) needs convincing that

spring’s here – I mean, really here? There’s no doubt now. Despite decidedly snappy starts to some days and brisk morning breezes, nature’s been heralding spring’s arrival for weeks. Robins bobbed along for quite a while, singing their sweet song, pairing up and busying themselves building nests in readiness for starting a family. Numerous avian returnees followed their lead.

Ah, spring – season of new life and new beginnings!

Foliage now clothes the nakedness of winter’s dormancy, ready to offer hospitality to a host of creatures and sunshade for people fair of skin.  Forsythia and magnolia shouted a colourful welcome, and blossoming trees continue to praise their Creator, announcing the promise of fruit.

Source Credit: ClipartFest.com

No wonder the Christian community celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ in spring, at Easter. I continue to meet people who’ve experienced a springtime in their lives because Jesus has become real to them and a living entity within them.

Early this spring my wife and I had the honour of participating in a memorial service to a lady who, in her early senior years opened up her life in faith to the Lord Jesus in a new way.

Last fall she married her long-time sweetheart, then was baptized as a Christ-follower and became a member of the church fellowship that became a recent part of her life’s journey. During the period of her making these commitments she was forward-looking, despite serious illness.

This was a time of new beginnings, she said.

One day I accompanied her pastor – my friend Andy – when visiting her in hospital. She intimated to us that she was at peace and had absolutely no fear of dying. If not granted recovery this lady knew she would go to be with the Lord she loved. Upon reflection I realise that, although physically in the concluding season of her earthly life, this person was truly living in the springtime of her new life “in Christ” – to use a scriptural term.

It was late autumn physically for her, because the fading leaves of her earthly existence had fully turned and were now falling; only a few remained. And yet hers was a hope-filled springtime spiritually. And so, with my wistful and respectful reflections on that lady, who’d become my friend, let’s get back to spring.

Credit, Free Images: Getty

Spring, summer and autumn are wonderful months for weddings. Next weekend, God willing, Rev. Andy will officiate at another wedding and I’ll be at the organ. With measured steps, the bride – a middle-aged lady – will glide regally to meet her groom at that same altar to be wed in the sight of God, while I sing, Walk Hand in Hand with Me.* This couple is also stepping onto the road of new beginnings, suggested in these lines from that song “Walk hand in hand with me, God is our destiny; No greater love could be . . .”

Source: Midwest Living

With divorce rates in North America nudging close to 50% many young people and even second-time-around older couples are giving up on traditional marriage unions, opting instead for common-law arrangements. Not surprisingly, some millennials, traumatized by their parents’ break-ups, are fearful of declaring strong, traditional Christian-based vows.

I invariably lift up silent prayer in behalf of friends and acquaintances who stand at an altar “in the sight of God and in the presence of these witnesses” to declare their intentions of fidelity in marriage.

The seasons of life inevitably lead to the chilly blasts of winter. How important to develop strong roots, resilient trunks and supple limbs during life’s spring and summer.

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* Composer: Johnny Cowell. © 1956 Republic Music Corp.

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Peter A. Black lives in Southwestern Ontario. He writes a weekly inspirational newspaper column, P-Pep! and is author of Raise Your Gaze ... Mindful Musings of a Grateful Heart, and Parables from the Pond. ~~+~~