September 23, 2020
While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?”
Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”
He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him.
After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.
- Mark 5: 35-43
People were certain Jairus’ daughter was dead. They laughed when Jesus said she was sleeping. Despite what others said and thought, Jesus told her to get up and she did! This surprising scene of new life reminds me of the avocado tree in my backyard.
Years ago, in Shreveport Leah and I began saving the seeds of the avocados we ate. I tried to balance the pits over glasses of water to get the seeds to sprout. They never did and Leah soon grew tired of lifeless collection of pits taking up kitchen counter space. I agreed to throw them out, but I saved one and tossed it into a flowerpot in the backyard. To our surprise it sprouted and began to grow. This little plant survived the trip all the way to Crowley and continued to thrive.
At the start of 2020, the leaves began to brown. I made an effort to water more regularly and moved it around the patio to find the perfect place for optimal sunshine and rain. No matter what I did, more leaves shriveled to a crispy brown. By summer, it was surely dead. I blamed myself. With a new baby at home, I was no longer watering the plants regularly. I wondered if it had grown too big for the pot. I had waited too long to transfer it to a larger pot or the ground and now it was surely dead.
I didn’t want to give up, so I took a shovel and planted the sickly tree in the backyard. The process left all those brown leaves on the ground. I watered the bare stick and waited. A week later, little buds appeared. Now you can see how the green leaves have returned. It wasn’t dead, it is alive!
2020 has flipped our world upside down. Many things we hold dear have fallen lifeless. Some may truly be gone. But others, are only sleeping. How certain are we? Are we prepared to listen to Jesus if he were to tell us otherwise, or will we join in the laughter? We do not know what hidden promises will bloom tomorrow. Today I share the avocado tree with you to share a little hope. In another 5 to seven years, we could share some home-grown avocados too.
But until then, we look for the ways God is breathing new life into our lives and the world.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Peter
Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”
He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him.
After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.
- Mark 5: 35-43
People were certain Jairus’ daughter was dead. They laughed when Jesus said she was sleeping. Despite what others said and thought, Jesus told her to get up and she did! This surprising scene of new life reminds me of the avocado tree in my backyard.
Years ago, in Shreveport Leah and I began saving the seeds of the avocados we ate. I tried to balance the pits over glasses of water to get the seeds to sprout. They never did and Leah soon grew tired of lifeless collection of pits taking up kitchen counter space. I agreed to throw them out, but I saved one and tossed it into a flowerpot in the backyard. To our surprise it sprouted and began to grow. This little plant survived the trip all the way to Crowley and continued to thrive.
At the start of 2020, the leaves began to brown. I made an effort to water more regularly and moved it around the patio to find the perfect place for optimal sunshine and rain. No matter what I did, more leaves shriveled to a crispy brown. By summer, it was surely dead. I blamed myself. With a new baby at home, I was no longer watering the plants regularly. I wondered if it had grown too big for the pot. I had waited too long to transfer it to a larger pot or the ground and now it was surely dead.
I didn’t want to give up, so I took a shovel and planted the sickly tree in the backyard. The process left all those brown leaves on the ground. I watered the bare stick and waited. A week later, little buds appeared. Now you can see how the green leaves have returned. It wasn’t dead, it is alive!
2020 has flipped our world upside down. Many things we hold dear have fallen lifeless. Some may truly be gone. But others, are only sleeping. How certain are we? Are we prepared to listen to Jesus if he were to tell us otherwise, or will we join in the laughter? We do not know what hidden promises will bloom tomorrow. Today I share the avocado tree with you to share a little hope. In another 5 to seven years, we could share some home-grown avocados too.
But until then, we look for the ways God is breathing new life into our lives and the world.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Peter
