Give Purpose to the Pandemic With This One Simple Thing...

Just over a month ago, a friend gave my little gardener her amaryllis in a box. It came complete with the pot, the block of soil and the bulb.

All we had to do was plant it.

I was determined to not let the amaryllis join the fate of the carrot seeds that I buried in my drawer years ago instead of burying in soil. I also was did not want our friend to regret putting her beautiful flower in our care so my little gardener and I planted it immediately.

Watching something grow is exciting; planting is a bit anticlimactic. You make a mess of the soil, bury the bulb and then flood it with water all so it can look nothing like the beautiful picture on the box. But then you wait and you water trusting that something is happening beneath the soil that you cannot see.

We followed the instructions to keep it in a room around 21 degrees, and to keep the soil moist. Still, nothing appeared to be happening. But then it happened. Two weeks later we returned home after being gone for a week and to our delight, there were two new shoots growing up.

We just kept watering, waiting and watching. And now, just over a month later, you would never know this plant came from such humble beginnings.

At the beginning of this pandemic season, it seemed like we could just push pause on our lives and it would be over soon enough. But as we’ve all learned, perhaps the hard way, is that 9+ months is a long time to pause living. It’s too long to leave your life in a box on the shelf waiting for better weather.

Through the amaryllis, God has been teaching me this: good things can still grow in this season.

We always hear, “bloom where you’re planted,” but perhaps we’d be wiser to begin here: plant something where you are.

Because nothing can grow that hasn’t been planted. 

In my part of the world we are in our second lockdown, slated to last a minimum of 4 weeks but who knows. We are living in a season where other than God, the only constant is change. But here’s what I do know, 4 weeks is long enough for something grow, but only if you plant it.

• Do you want to grow your faith? Plant the Word of God in your mind regularly for the next 4 weeks. Faith comes from hearing, and hearing from the Word of God.

• Do you want to grow in gratitude and contentment? Each day write down 3 things you’re thankful for. It is God’s will that you and I give thanks in all circumstances.

• Do you want to grow in your health? Plant some exercise habits. Lock up the pantry at 7:00 PM. Save yourself the pandemic pounds. We only get one body and it’s the temple of the Holy Spirit for as long as you are on this earth.

• Do you want to grow in relationships? Plant some intentional connections over the phone, video calling, texting or walking outdoors.

• Do you want to grow in presence? Plant many yeses to baking, LEGO, games, stories and/or snuggles each day.

Whatever you want to see grow, you must plant. 

So pick one thing and practice it for the next 4 weeks (plant), stick with it (trust while you wait), ask God for his help (water), and enjoy the delight of watching it grow.

What are you going to plant?