A Moment with our Ministers

Once August is over it seems Christmas is quickly upon us.
Before Christmas arrives with all its joy and demand, there are other seasons to celebrate. One recently embraced is the Season of
Creation. The focus on the gifts of creation connects us to our better known celebrations of Harvest.
As we reflect on creation and Harvest, we are wondering — what is it we sow and what is it we harvest? Some of you have wonderful produce and flowers you have grown. Even those of us who are not gardeners sow seeds and may harvest ‘fruits.’
Jesus tells a story of a farmer sowing seed in a variety of places. He talks about what grows, what is eaten by birds before it can take root, and what just dies before anything can grow because of the stony ground. Humans can sow the seeds of love, respect, kindness, or peace. Humans also scatter and sow the seeds of discord and hatred.
The other day we drove down the access road from the Heath to Western Avenue. On the road was a beautiful flower.
No one intentionally sowed that seed there, yet there is was, bringing joy to anyone who would notice.
It reminded us of a story by Trevor Denis about a neighbourhood devastated by war. Some housing
was left. There was also a lot of rubble. No green space was visible anywhere. One day in the midst of the concrete, a sunflower began to grow. No one planted it there. The people marvelled at its greenness and then the beauty of the flower. Unfortunately, one night someone chopped it down; the joy it brought was too much for the broken community.
But, as you have guessed, it was cut down at just the right time for all the seeds to scatter, allowing it grow again the next year — even in the ‘stony’ soil. There was a resurrection of sorts in that community through
the sunflower.
Faced with lands blighted by war, rhetoric ‘othering’ people, fear about the future of creation, it is easy to chop down the things that are growing, to be hopeless. Instead, we invite you to reflect on what kinds of seeds
you scatter?
Our world needs the seeds of love, respect, peace and kindness. We must keep sowing the seeds that reflect the way of Jesus and trust that even if we can’t see them growing at the moment, they are there, preparing to sprout up at unexpected times and in unexpected places.
Take heart. Keep sowing. Remember love wins.

Peace, Martha and David