My Grandfather grew his tomatoes from seeds. In early Spring he would set up small pots of
earth and put four seeds in each one.
The first two to sprout in each pot were the ones he kept. He would transfer these to their own planting
pots made of compressed peat. He started
out with sixty of them and the thirty strongest would make it to the
garden. Those the made the cut were
those that grew the strongest and showed the most change.
One of his instructions, as he would explain his process, was
that you had to patiently allow for change.
You had to watch for growth and changes to see where a plant showed its
potential and coax it along to the realization of that potential. We have all heard the false adage, “people
never change.” This is a lie. We remember the failures of others and
revisit them on their heads the moment that we think they are hoeing the same
row again.
I was listening to some talk radio as I drove yesterday and
the host was talking about reserving the right to change. She made it clear that people can and do
change when they encounter or grow more deeply engaged with Jesus. I have seen lives changed and even made
richer by an encounter with Christ. I
have seen people who follow him become the full potential of their ability.
We, however, practice denying others the right to
change. We decide what someone is like
and put them safely in a box. We put a
lid on the box and occasionally poke holes in it for holidays and
birthdays. We judge others based on past
failures and assume that this is all they are.
After years of failure, we refuse to believe that there is potential for
redemption.
I intend to ponder this for a bit as we approach the season
of love and giving. Souls, gratitude,
and giving require love. We cannot be
honest and deny others the right to change.
I would invite you to walk with me as we determine what we must avoid
and include to allow others the right to change. As always, your thoughts and questions are
welcome.
Wishing you joy in the journey,
Aramis Thorn
Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every
writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a
homeowner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure
store.”
(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
Contacts for Aramis
Thorn:
Bookings: aramisthorn@aramisthorn.com
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