Falling Cherries

No way could I have ever picked all the cherries this year, even with the help of friends and family. And now the inevitable is happening. The ground is littered with overripe cherries, staining the driveway and pressing into soles.

That which was delicious in its time, on those warm summer days, is beginning to rot and stain.

The fields are ripe and ready for the picking, Jesus told his disciples. You can’t do it all: pray for helpers.

Our neighbours and friends don’t all know Jesus. They are missing out on so much, but we can’t reach them all. Partly because there isn’t time, and partly because they may need someone else to listen to. People don’t always respond to friends and family, though they are always watching to see if we walk the walk.

Press into the Lord of the harvest and pray for helpers. Pray for new ways to do church. Pray for new ways to present the ancient truth of the gospel.

Isn't it beautiful?

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?

The Geens are Ready

The geens are ready. Wild Scottish cherries. We’ve got trees all over the property and it’s always a race to see if we can harvest any before the pigeons commence their military-precision stripping of the trees!

A few years ago, we got enough to make a couple jars of the most delicious jam. It took two of us to skim because there is more stone than flesh on each cherry, but it was so so delicious.

Jesus said to be alert and to watch what’s going on around us. We’ve been watching those cherries and also further afield, though things aren’t so straightforward there. It is hard to understand exactly what is going on in the wider political world just now.

Even more reason to keep our eyes on Jesus while staying aware of current events. And staying on our knees. We want to get the cherries before the pigeons do.