This past summer, I shared pumpkins seeds with our children here at church to tie into the story when Jesus talked to his disciples about mustard seeds and faith. Later that day, Pete, LJ, and I each took a seed to plant at home, but space was limited so in the end, I planted them in my almost empty compost pile. Surprisingly, all three grew and grew large. But, after the most blossoms I have ever had—only one pumpkin grew from one seed. That’s the one I brought today.
At the same time, I saw how a young dad threw his pumpkin into the yard in 2020, and he noticed this past summer all the stalks that were growing. So he left them to see what what would happen. At last count, which is hard since his yard now looks like a forest of pumpkin leaves, he has 19 pumpkins growing. Truth is, he tossed that pumpkin and didn’t give it a thought. Careless, you could say.
This reminded me that what we do with purpose and with carelessness matters because both ways produce results. Results which may surprise us or overwhelm us. Results which are good and sometimes hurtful. Results which we may not see for years by the seeds grow. With purpose, I planted three seeds and have one pumpkin, but the dad who likely threw the pumpkin in his backyard as a joke has a bounty.
It doesn’t seem fair at times what comes easily for others and harder for some. Or that carelessness is rewarded while careful planning produces less than desired. And yet, Jesus would tell me that I really only needed one pumpkin today, and that’s what I was given. Perhaps the dad needed more pumpkins to understand God’s abundance. The truth is, we all learn differently, we have different results, and we need different experiences to experience God. Today, for me, it is one pumpkin. And Jesus is right. Today, it’s enough. Pastor Sarah