How to Become More Than You Are Right Now
By: Patricia Taylor
Apparently, it only takes a potato and a colleague to get me started.
I have a really overactive imagination, and sometimes I think I missed my calling as a teacher. I can find an object lesson in anything! So, there I was with a colleague of mine, who happened to be looking at a potato. She coordinates a community garden, so I asked her if she was looking for a seed potato. (A seed potato is a potato that has several “eyes” that can grow new potatoes if planted.)
She looked at me for a moment, then looked at the potato in her hand. She saw that there were little nubs growing out of the potato’s “eyes,” and she responded, “Well, it is starting go to seed.” So, I replied, “See! It already wants to be more than it is right now. It just hasn’t realized its dream yet.” All of a sudden, I paused, and my silly mood slipped away as the realization hit me…
The potato had not become more than what it already was because it had not been cut apart and buried.
Now, that realization will sober you up pretty quickly when you realize that in order to become more than you are, you must die. The magic of potatoes is that you can plant one potato and get many potatoes. It is a multiplication miracle! But, in order to get many potatoes from one potato, you must first cut the one potato into pieces and bury it. Similarly, Christ tells us that multiplication requires sacrifice in God’s economy:
Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
John 12:24-26
So many of our alumni are working in parts of God’s harvest that may seem small, remote, thankless, or invisible. So often, we feel like we have been run ragged or get wounded in the process of our life’s work. At times, it may feel like we have been buried in some deep, dark place where light will never find us again…
But, what if that deep, dark place is the place where God intends for us to wiggle out our roots and plant ourselves firmly so the lifter of our heads can bring our new growth into the light of his grace? What if that new growth turns into strong branches that bear nourishing fruit to feed all of creation and bring joy to our God? Could you count the dark places worth what our Master Gardener can bring forth?
The dark places are hard. There is no doubt about that. The suffering is real and painful. We ache for relief, and that is ok. But, we can hold on to the promise that God can do miraculous things and bring new life out of the dark places.
You can find more articles like this one at Soul Care Community.
Thank you. Satan has been attacking me by taking away my joy. I need to let new seeds sprout new life.
Gerald,
I am glad this could be an encouragement to you. Please do know that even when you feel like you are unseen, your Asbury family is praying for you. Feel free to shoot us an email or give us a call if we can be of help to you while you are on the front lines. And tell that old liar to GET outta here. Satan’s just mad because you have something he’s not got! We are praying for our kind Savior to restore the joy of your salvation and renew your spirit today. Keep your eyes peeled for the ways He is going to show you all the beautiful things He is doing in your midst. Thank you for your faithful witness.
Every blessing!
Thanks P. J.! See you at New Room.
You know I love you, Jay Roberson. You have always been such a faithful witness, even in the smallest things, like flipping pizza dough and evangelizing my daddy at a pizza parlor. Keep praying for him. I *hope* I get to see you at New Room! I’m wondering if I will actually make it there myself this year, which bums me out, as it will be the very first time I have missed it since the second gathering. But, I have an international trip with the Alumni Council the following month. I’m hoping I can still go, but time will tell. Maybe it will mean that I can go and actually participate more instead of working the whole time.
Great word, Patricia Taylor!