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The Lee County Ledger
Weekly Pastor's Corner
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Gary's
Musings
by Gary Collier |
In
my second career as a residential designer I meet clients with all kinds of
different interests. I had a client once that I designed a house for with a
special room for his plants! That’s all that he planned on putting in there. The
room had plenty of windows, good ventilation and a special faucet for watering
his plants. Plants were one of his passions.
He
looked around my office one day and noted the absence of plants. Hey, I’m a
preacher and a designer, not a plant guy. “Your office looks barren”, he told
me. “I’m going to bring you one of my plants the next time I come to see you.”
Sure ‘nuff, he did. He told me “This is one of my favorite plants. I’ve had it
for 8 years.” Yikes! I was scared silly that I’d kill it before long. My client
reassured me that it was easy to take care of and gave me basic outlines on what
to do.
Six years later, I still don’t know what the name of the plant is. It’s about 5
feet tall, has large leaves and – so far – has survived my caretaking. I
admittedly don’t know what I’m doing… but the plant doesn’t know that I don’t
know, so it thrives anyway. It just sits, looks good, is patient if I ignore it
and grows, no matter what.
This plant wouldn’t win any beauty contests. It’s not gorgeous or beautiful.
It’s not ugly, either. Any judge would call it “average” in looks, probably.
Ahhh, but it’s sturdy, it’s always green and it just lives, regardless. Doesn’t
require a lot of attention and doesn’t seek it, either.
Wouldn’t it be great if all of us in the church were like that? Never needy…
complaining… seeking attention… always green… smiling… consistent… always there…
and determined to thrive, no matter what is going on.
There are plants that are much more beautiful than mine. I understand that
they’re much more temperamental, too. If they don’t have perfect conditions –
the right light, the exact watering, the right temperature – they die. Zap, gone.
Beauty is where you find it, though. God isn’t nearly as concerned with our
talents, gifts or callings as he is with our faithfulness. When we determine to
grow and thrive regardless of our conditions, we bring glory to God. When we
refuse to wither or die in the face of temptations, trials or disappointments,
we bring glory to God. The hardy, green, growing plants are the backbone and
foundation of God’s church.
I
just want to be faithful. How about you?
Gary Collier is pastor at Christ’s Sanctified
Holy Church located at 791 White Pond Rd. He welcomes your thoughts at garybcollier@gmail.com
or at 854-3003. You may access and share “Gary’s Musings” by going to http://cshcl.com/archived_musings.htm
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