It began with a packet of seeds: actually a picture of a man’s hand holding a packet of seeds. Not a picture in a magazine, in a book, or on a wall. But, the kind of picture that the Holy Spirit gives from time to time.
A picture that came early morning, before breakfast and that quite frankly puzzled me.
Why a packet of seeds?
What kind of seeds?
I could see no label, no image to indicate what kind of flower or vegetable. I watched as the seeds were poured into the other hand for sowing,
If like me, you read the scriptures you will know many verses that speak of seeds and sowing. There is the Parable of the Sower for one, the enemy who sowed weeds over night in the farmer’s field, the Mustard seed…but none seemed to fit. I know that a picture is not the Word of the Lord and neither are our musings, however informed or fitting. God’s thoughts are not our thoughts so I just waited, patiently, prayerfully.
“Do not sow two kinds of seed in your vineyard.” I was not expecting that answer when it came a couple of days later with a new picture. This time there were two packets of seed with the words. “Choose. Your words or mine? Did n’t the Lord set two choices before Israel at Mount Ebal and did He not say, ‘Choose life.'” (Deuteronomy 30v19)
On Mount Ebal Israel was shown clearly two ways, a way of blessing and a way of cursing. Israel was asked to choose which way it would follow. Followers of Jesus also have a choice to make. The two packets of seeds are shown most distinctly in Galatians Chapter 5. The seeds I choose are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, self control.” The label on the packet reads, “The seeds of the spirit.”
In a parish church many funeral services take place in the course of the year; and many are for people whose last declaration is “I did it my way.” I play the Frank Sinatra version from the sound desk as the coffin leaves church. I have heard so many family stories and tributes through the years, and as I write these words feel with sadness that many of those people ‘facing the final curtain’ have without their knowledge been robbed. Robbed of a life that could have been better, sweeter. Dare I say it? Robbed of a life of blessing. I bless God for His many blessings and count them again.
It begins with a packet of seeds.
Fresh Whispers 