He (Jesus) also said, “The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come.”
Mark 4:26-29
There’s a change coming on. Can you feel it? Here at this halfway point between the summer solstice and the fall equinox all that we’ve planted is ripening. It’s true of what we’ve planted in the earth, and it’s true of what we’ve planted in consciousness. Though the challenging outer conditions are still with us, I sense a change in response. There is a new feeling of strength emerging. People are tired physically and emotionally, yet, there is an awareness that we are moving through an important transformation. We are not being defeated, rather we are birthing ourselves into an essential new understanding of oneness with all life.
How do we maintain our energy and constructive upward movement in this time of great demands being made upon our bodies, minds, and hearts? We remember what Jesus taught about the kingdom of heaven. He always illustrated it as an amazingly strong, persistent, yet invisible power that expanded no matter what. You just can’t stop it! His metaphors were yeast making tasty bread, an unstoppable mustard seed that became a tree, a treasure hidden in a field, grain sprouting and producing stage by stage into an abundant harvest. Jesus’ point was always, “don’t give up.” Even when it seems to you that nothing is happening, the power of good, the power of God is doing the work within. We co-operate by nurturing our inner life, by giving our gifts of love and service, expressing our talents, and letting one another deeply we care.
A few years ago when I had the very delightful experience of participating in a retreat on the island of Iona in Scotland, I was introduced to the traditional South African song Bambelela in the Zulu language. The English translation is “Never Give Up,” or “Hold On.” It is a strong song of faith expressing that as we persist in moving our minds and feet in a holy direction, good will prevail. There are many versions of Bambelela on the internet. I share with you my favorite – this spontaneous outpouring from a group of South African schoolteachers. Let their rhythm and joy carry you along and you too will never give up! Hang in there; the good is growing!
In the Love and Light of the Christ,
Rev. Anna
