A month ago, our cherry trees were literally dripping with
cherries, which for some reason the pigeons ignored. Freezer full now, some jam
made, many cherries didn’t get picked. I just couldn’t reach.
Now I look out and the apple trees are drooping towards the
ground, so heavy is the fruit on their branches. Big, healthy-looking apples,
not yet ready, but when they are, there will be apple butter, crumbles, pies,
sauce.
Even the plum tree, which has never done much, has a healthy
crop beginning to ripen.
And yet, the raspberries were poor quality and scarce. The
strawberries were small, though sweet. There aren’t many blueberries.
I’m no horticulturist, but it’s evident that weather
conditions which bless some fruits, harm others.
So it is with people. A climate of corruption can encourage
some to let their integrity flower and grow fruit to feed those whose hope is
waning. Or it can tempt people to participate in corruption.
We are not to live like people who have no hope, the Bible
claims. When the storms of negativity, of fake news and alternative truth
buffet our world, we are to look up. He who started a good work in us will not
leave it incomplete. Filled with his Spirit of hope, the joy of the Lord as our
strength, we are the cherry and apple trees in my garden, feeding the hungry
poor.
This is the day the Lord has made. Isn’t it beautiful?
No comments:
Post a Comment