Check under the soil.

I recently had a conversation with my manager (Donna) from when I worked at a garden nursery.  Seeing as though we are both garden lovers, we got on the topic of plants.  There was something she said that stuck with me:

“When you plant a seed, you will see an initial sprout.  Then there is a period of time when you cannot see anything happening.  But what you are not seeing is that the seed is growing roots to support the plant it is growing.  This is a crucial part of the plant’s growth, but is often thought of as a time without growth simply because we cannot see it.”

I go to Corban University, a Christian college where it is expected to see personal growth, development, and a deepening relationship with God.  I become greatly discouraged when I am not growing, when I feel far from God, or when I don’t feel the presence of God in my life.  I was thinking about how I have felt this way throughout my education here at Corban, and this conversation I had with Donna came to mind. 

Who says I am not growing?  Just because I don’t feel like I am growing or because I can’t see growth, does that mean I am not growing?  I think these assumptions are wrong.  This time I have here at Corban is providing me with time for roots to grow.  At no other time of my life will I have professors who can teach me those things I have always wished I knew about my faith.  At no other time will I live in a dorm with 115 other woman of God.  At no other time will I be encouraged on a daily basis to make my faith my own.  At no other time will I have the opportunity to attend chapel three times a week, where I can learn more about God with my fellow student body.  At no other time will I be surrounded by an entire community that loves and lives for God.

I am growing.

"Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught."  (Colossians 2:7)

I may not feel any different.  But just like the seed that is growing roots to support the plant to come, my faith needs roots to support a life to be lived for the glory of God. 

Do not grow discouraged when you don’t see growth in your life.  Maybe you are growing roots.  Without roots, we will be unable to support our faith when things get difficult.

Growth is not always obvious.  Don’t discredit this time in your life as a time void of growth.  Check under the soil.  

There's no crying in football!

There are some things in life that are ridiculous.  The price of cereal, the verification necessary to get a library card, the calories in triple chocolate fudge cake, and maybe even people who cry watching football. 

Today marks the third home husky football game that I have had to miss in the past 12 years.  As I sat in my dorm room, watching the game stream through my computer, listening to the fans cheer, getting text messages from my parents who were at the game, I began to cry.  I’m not sure if I have ever felt so ridiculous in my life.  Who cries over football?!  Apparently I do. 

All of a sudden I remembered being 5 years old, on my dad’s shoulders, walking through a stadium filled with excitement and purple.  I remembered how it feels when the crowd goes crazy when the Huskies hold the opponents on 4th and short.  I remembered walking through campus with my dad, talking pregame strategy.  I remembered waking up early on Sunday mornings to read all the articles about the previous days’ victory.  I remembered six-hour car rides from our house in Corvallis to the games in Seattle. 

I remembered spending time with my dad.  I remembered bonding with my dad. 

The reason I cried was because I knew what I was missing.  I was missing that time with my dad that I have grown to love.  I hated knowing my dad was there in our seats and I was hours away. 

Like the time I spend with my dad in Husky Stadium, my time with God helps me bond with my other Father.   God waits for us everyday.  He longs for us to meet him.  But I have never cried over the times I have neglected to spend time with God.  I never thought about what I was missing.  I never thought of my Father waiting for me. 

Today I realized that I took each one of those football games for granted.  How blessed am I to have the opportunity to go to each of those games?  How blessed am I that those games and the car rides to them have equated to hours upon hours of time spent with my dad? 

I take time with God for granted.  He is always there to meet with me, but I seem to find every excuse not to meet with him.  I’ll drive four hours from Salem to see a football game, but I can’t seem to find the time in a day to meet with my Father.  The thought of my selfishness makes me cry.   

He is waiting. 

“Evening, morning, and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice” (Psalm 55:17).