Inspired from above in a moment of reflection


Seeds of Faith


The weather where I live is very temperate due to the ocean being only four miles away. The wind that blows across the surface of the water mixes with the air that surrounds us and makes the people that live here happy, watching the weather channel, when snow has befallen the hopes of others. The inhabitants that have settled here are a diverse group, owning chicken farms, village shops, local grocery stores, hair salons and the corner hardware store. Others came bearing degrees and have hung shingles on their doors with the titles of Doctor, Dentist, Lawyer and Architect. There are also the newcomers, who built their mansions on the sand facing the wind and intermingle with us, as fair weather comes upon us. The rest of us, are the rut of the work force, and handle the majority of the day to day things, that make the town go round, so to say. I find it enjoyable and like it to an old settler’s town without the trading post, butter churns and mud laden streets.

Entertainment in our town can be as diverse as its people. Movies, restraints, bars and stores for shopping dot the main streets of our and the other cities that surround us. Many meet in groups at local taverns to drink and tell stories of the day or have parties at home to brag of their future wealth and stature with words that bubble from their mouths of champagne. There are others that have found a special place to meet where all the attendants are children no matter their age and talk not of yesterday or tomorrow’s dreams but only of what they know and feel today. I have been one of these blessed few.

We are all brothers and sisters and an occasional Pastor, sprinkled here and there, at our church. We meet to praise God, our Lord Jesus Christ and to lift Them up along with each other. It is a safe haven of life, like no other, with all eyes and arms raised in one direction. We, together, are an unyielding force of our Almighty God, bond together in friendship, unity, strength, love and direction.

Within this bond of friendship I have had the privilege to meet Earl and our sister Edith. They own a small business called Moments in Time, that produce products that have been sand blasted with inscriptions upon them. I think any material worthy of the process, no matter the size, would be fair game for Earl as there are few earth bound materials that can endure the force of a grain of sand.

Brother Earl and Sister Edith donated numerous small, pocket stones with a sand blasted, gold painted cross imprinted on it to their friends at the church. I thought it was a great gift as I removed the wrapper and placed in my pocket. I could rub it in the times I would become stressed or anxious to remind me of God’s presence in my life and carry me thru my hard periods.

I soon learned that God gifts are to be used according to his will and not what we decide to use them for. We left church and headed for the grocery store to pick up supplies for dinner. I was in the check out line with all the essentials waiting for the person in front of me to get checked out when my new stone decided to wander from me. I didn’t know the girl behind the cash register and I really loved my new stone but my hand took it from my pocket as I offered it as a present to her. I said, “It is what it looks like, but it is more”. That was even deep for me. I watched the girl for her reaction as she hesitated for a moment, said thank you and continued to bag my groceries. I walked away evaluating the whole experience and compared it to having a door shut in my face.

As I loaded the groceries in the car, my wife reminded me of an additional item on the list I had forgotten to purchase. Back I went into the place of the wicked one to pick up our loaf of bread. There wasn’t anyone in line as I approached the checkout. The same girl took my bread to check it out and said, “I pray to God that He gives me the patience tonight until I get home to my kids.” The door opens, water splashes you in the face, you drop to your knees, open your eyes and pray to our God that knows all.

I have placed many more stones in my pocket but none of them stay there very long. Not everyone reacts the same or as quickly. I have had people ask me what is the “more” of the stone, a week after I have given to them. I tell them that it is a seed that has been growing in them since they received it and I ask if they would like to learn what I mean. Although they are the easiest, I enjoy giving a stone to those with eyes glimmering with faith, because I know I have found a new brother or sister. There are some that their faces turn red with embarrassment as I hand it to them and I want to believe that it might have reminded them of their lack of faith or a recent sin they had committed. But I really can’t say, for who are we to question how our God chooses to use the stone within them. I just remember that, we shall plant the seed and it is God that will provide the increase.