This week's author is the Rev. Da Vita D. McCallister, Associate Conference Minister for Youth and Young Adult Ministries for the Connecticut Conference, UCC.
[Jesus] also said, "The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the
ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout
and grow, he does not know how. The earth produces of itself, first the
stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. But when the grain
is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come."
He also said, "With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable
will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the
ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it
grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large
branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade."
With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear
it; he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything
in private to his disciples.
Saturday night I went on a Moonlit tour of Elizabeth Park in Hartford. I
stood by the greenhouse just after 9:00pm and mingled into a crowd of 35
other seekers. There were children running through the crowd, small dogs
sitting, couples holding hands, groups of friends looking on and one tour
guide.
Our tour guide would point to a wonder of nature with his flashlight and
begin to explain its origin and the necessary steps for its care in the
Park. Sometimes one of my fellow seekers would ask a question about a tree
that was just off our guided tour and we would be off to explore. There was
a dragon, a name given a tree that bore a remarkable resemblance to
something you would see in a children's book; state champions, whose heights
were often questioned by non-Connecticut residents; hybrids, created by
methods I still don't understand; and natives to this part of the country
all tucked into this park together.
Just before the rock garden, our tour guide shone his light on a broad
trunked tree and asked us to guess how old it was. The numbers came from all
corners of the crowd. "100 years old," "no, 200 years old" were the first
two guesses. Before another round of guessing ensued the tour guide answered
"40 years old." I stood stunned that a tree could grow so large, provide
such shade, and produce roots that stood above and below the ground in such
a short period.
In the lectionary lesson in Mark this week, the gospel writer encourages the
reader with an admonition about the Kingdom of God. It is like the smallest
seed that grows to become the greatest shrub. I've read this text many times
over the years and my focus has always been on the contrast between the
"smallest seed, and the greatest shrub." Yet in my daily life the source of
tension in my faith is rarely because of my perception of the contrast
between "great and small." The greatest source of my faithful tension is the
contrast between "short and long periods of time." I do not wonder if the
"smallest WILL be the greatest" or if the "last SHALL be first" or if the
"weak WILL be the strong;" I pace the floor wondering "When." How much time
will it take for the "smallest to grow to be the greatest" or for the "last
to finally be first?" How much time will it take for the seed of my own
faith to be LARGE enough to provide rest for others and shade for myself?
As I reflect on that tour and this text, I'm excited because I think that my
guide has given me an answer for the "when" questions as well. It will not
take "100 years or 200 years" for my faith to grow from small to GREAT' I'll
be 40 in a year and a half.
Please remember:
Peggy Wright, retired Assistant to the Conference Minister, who is recovering from knee surgery;
the Rev. M. J. Hinchliff, pastor of First Church of Christ, Congregational, UCC of East Haddam, who is being treated for breast cancer;
the loved ones and families of those aboard the Air France flight lost off the coast of Brazil;
the leaders of this nation, that they may meet the challenges of the day with insight, wisdom, and compassion;
those suffering due to the ongoing financial woes of the nation, be they struggling to meet an unaffordable mortgage, confronting the loss of a job, or working to find just resolutions to the crisis; and
those serving or living in war or conflict zones around the world, or where terrorists have struck, particularly in Iraq, Afghanistan, Colombia, and the Sudan.
To be added to the prayer list, please send an email to your Regional Minister or to webmaster@ctucc.org.
Southbury
United Ch. of Christ, Southbury
P The Rev. Walter L. Pitman
AP The Rev. Cynthia C. Holden
MM The Rev. Laura Opsahl
Southington
First Cong'l Ch of Southington
IN The Rev. Patricia Liberty
MV Mr. Charles Williams
AP The Rev. Linda Fernandes-Bailey
AP The Rev. Richard B. Haverly Jr.
CE Ms. Carole Lantz
CE Ms. Karlene Archambeault
Southport
Southport Cong'l Church, UCC
P The Rev. Paul D. Whitmore
AP The Rev. Laura H. Whitmore
Stafford Springs
Second Cong'l Ch of Stafford
P The Rev. Wayne A. Strever
Stamford
First Cong'l Church
P The Rev. Cari Jackson
Stamford
North Stamford Cong'l Church
PT The Rev. Diane K. Stevenson
Stamford
Union Memorial Church
P The Rev. Blaine A. Edele
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http://www.ctucc.org/fido/spiritcalendar/
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The Spirit Calendar: June 08, 2009 by Rev. Da Vita D. McCallister, Associate Conference Minister for Youth and Young Adult Ministries
