Growth

It's garden time once again in my backyard. The tomatoes, peppers, corn and cucumbers are planted and already looking good. Now comes the waiting, weeding and watering as nature does the thing that God set it up to do. I wish I could snap my fingers or say a word that would make things grow over night, but that's fantasy. Growth comes at it's own pace in response to the right environment.
I see an analogy.
Growth comes when the seed or seedling spends time in the right place with the right elements. Good soil, sun and water. It's not magic or luck, it's the designed reaction to the right conditions. The same is true with the soul. Spiritual growth, fruit bearing and harvest is not a matter of race, location or privilege. They are the results of being in the presence of God, our light and water, that causes growth. Psalms 1 puts it this way - "And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth his fruit in due season."
Once your in the right place then it is only a matter of time. You can't rush agricultural growth and you can't rush spiritual growth. Both require patience. Not lazy patience, where you do nothing but wait on God. But perfecting patience as you water, nourish and nurture your growth. Character, faith, service, wisdom and devotion will grow, increase, multiply and mature through diligence, learning and application of principles. It will grow if you grow it. Hope is good, real good, but it won't grow what you don't plant and develop.

George Daniel Wilson

On March 17th we buried our father.

Since then I've been thinking about what to say on RR that would be uplifting and encouraging. I'm not trying to be personal or spectacular, but grieving and goodbyes are unique experiences that bring great insight. I have handled countless funerals and comforted many members, but it's a different horse when you have to ride it yourself.

One thing became crystal clear - A spiritual family is an incredible source of comfort in times of loss. I received great love, condolences and prayer promises from all over the nation. Such a great outpouring humbled me and challenged me to be more sensitive to others as well. My immediate church family was with us through it all. Kings showed without doubt that they had lost a brother when I lost a father. Pop would've been proud of the services and the meal afterwards.

Daddy was ok with dying. He was in Christ and tired of the constant sickness and pain. When I visited him in the nursing home, I could tell he was more disappointed with being there than being sick. But I thought he would've bounced back like usual.

Playing it back, I think he knew he was leaving. He had started comparing himself with his father, Daddy Glen. Stressing that his father died coming back from Bojangles, (his usual breakfast spot), but he was going to die sick. I told him, "You fight until it's time to go, and don't worry about dying someone else's death." Turns out that that became a dramatic phrase in the storyline. He died the next morning.

There is something that I know is kind of sensitive, but he told me to tell it whenever I needed to, whenever I thought it could help someone. Most of my father's life was lived under the sinister haze of alcoholism. But he died 15 years sober. Scarred and bruised yet an overcomer of the toughest sort.

Father was the point of many 'firsts' in my life.
He was my first teacher for the things of God.
He taught me how to tie my first tie.
He was there when I caught my first fish.
Best of all...
He helped me preach my first sermon.

Rest in Peace
George Daniel Wilson