Faith as small as a mustard seed

When Rev. WY gave us (those undertaking the study of James Bryan Smith's book, "The Good and Beautiful God: Falling in Love with the God Jesus Knows") pots of earth to plant mustard seeds in as part of our reflection on faith, I was honestly more than a little unenthusiastic.

However, I'm glad that I didn't slack on our "homework"... because I am falling in love with my seedlings. My adopted babies.

My maternal instincts kicked in. I watered them at least once a day, rotated the pots regularly and nurtured them with special homemade "fertiliser" (i.e. the leftover EBM from Sophie's feeds - being a lactating mama does have its perks - sorry if it's TMI). Checked on them from time to time too. And God made them grow and grow. And grow.

How does this help me with my spiritual formation? Well, first, my plants remind me that our tiny faiths grow when we put effort into growing them. Indeed, God provides everything we need to invest into their growth (as He provides the sunlight, water, soil, and fertiliser, haha); but we also have to be diligent stewards with these resources. Spiritual disciplines (as illustrated by our discipline to water and nurture the seedlings) are shown to be a means of receiving God's grace (and also thus, the delightful sight of leaves towering above soil level) rather than an end in themselves. We can't really keep them alive and growing by our human efforts. It is really God who grows and stretches our faith as we participate submissively in the processes He subjects each individual to - tests, trials, encouragements and incentives. However, by investing in the disciplines, we are blessed when God Himself participates in our rituals and discloses Himself to us... as the good and beautiful Creator who delights in life, authenticity, growth, and becoming. No, not only a Creator, He is; God is also the Redeemer, through whom all our suffering and trials in this fallen world will make sense and yet point to evergreen hope - because He is love. There is nothing He does without love. There is nothing He allows His believers to go through that is unloving.

What sacramental things my seedlings are turning out to be!