Unseen transformation

Mark 4: 26 - 34

....and the seed should sprout and grow, he knows not how....

We are all in a hurry to get 'somewhere' quickly. We are hoping to reach our goals fairly efficiently, if possible. But in the kingdom life, Jesus reminds us that it is not so. Things happen often quite s-l-o-w-l-y in God's time and way. We cannot take credit for it except to participate in the way he graciously allows us to, for example to scatter the seed upon the ground.

God's Spirit works unseen in human hearts to transform from within. Sometimes, in our 'efforts' at 'spiritual formation' we can get caught up with programs and processes......as if they could bring about the desired result. Sometimes too, we try 'too hard' by working out whys and wherefores for ourselves, perhaps becoming too focused on inner dynamics and hidden dysfunctions......

I think bringing up children is a lesson about this slow 'growth'. As I spoke to my sister in law (whose children are in their teens) the other day, we recognized our inability to 'do much' as our children go through stages of development. We can only observe, often feeling 'helpless' and wondering if they will ever survive the challenges of being a teenager today. Of course we have cared enough to 'scatter the seeds', to have given them a foundation as best as we can. But the growth is often in fits and starts......and sometimes even seeming to go awry...but in the kingdom, God sees these as possibilities rather than hindrances. Even the small mustard seed can be transformed in God's hand, into a tree, capable of providing shelter. We may also worry needlessly about our own spiritual progress, but are invited to trust the 'kingdom life', the Spirit who dwells within will, with our cooperation bring about the desired growth. May we scatter, then trust the Master Farmer.