Little Plant, Big Lessons

“What’s the point?  It isn’t going to amount to anything.  So I’m not going to get my hopes up.  But at the same time, I feel called to tend to it, because who knows what will happen?

That was the conversation I had with myself earlier this year (late May in western Pennsylvania) as I stood over a tiny squash seedling that had appeared, perhaps planted by a bird or wind, in my and Travis’ back garden.  Given my previous challenges with squash bugs, I had intentionally not planted any type of squash plants (squash, zucchini, pumpkins, melons, etc.) for several years, despite everyone’s claim that “they’re so easy to grow!”. Yet here I was, debating whether this little plant was worth the trouble.

A few weeks later, in early June, I said to it (and, let’s be honest, to myself):

“Ok, little plant, here’s the thing… I’m going to continue to give you water, but it probably won’t make any difference.  You will die.”

By mid-June, the conversation changed slightly:

 “Ok, little plant that is getting bigger.  In addition to water, I’m going to go ahead and give you some fertilizer, because you’ve made it this long, but pretty soon the squash bugs are going to lay eggs on you and you will die.”

Then came mid-August.

“Ok, little plant that is now huge and has four recognizable fruits on it.  I’m now going to carefully untangle you from my strawberry plants, since I don’t want you to smother them while the slugs and our other garden critters eat away at what you have worked so hard to produce.”

And then… late September arrived.  To my disbelief, I harvested four awe-inspiring acorn squash!  PLUS…

• Two large Daikon/white radishes (over two feet each)! 
• Several Delicata squash, despite being “pruned” several times by deer (this squash plant was growing outside our deer fence) and somehow not destroyed by the squash bugs either. 
• Tomatoes from one of the healthiest looking tomato bushes I have ever seen.
• And, we got to enjoy the beauty of several huge zinnia plants until the hard freeze came in just last week.

None of it, not one thing, was planted by me!

How easy it is to doubt what God has in store for us.  Maybe, like me, you’ve thought, “What’s the point?  It won’t amount to anything.”  And yet, when we cultivate a receptive space(one that is open to God’s quiet nourishment, whether in silence, through creation, with others, etc.), it is remarkable what can take root and flourish.  God’s work in and through us often bears fruit far beyond anything we could have imagined, planned, or produced ourselves.  

As we move into the holiday season, a time when our hopes and expectations are often challenged, I encourage us all to diligently tend to our metaphorical garden plots — our wellbeing, our spiritual soil — entrusted to us by God.  Keep nurturing.  Keep watching.  Be on the lookout for the fruit that God is preparing for you. It may come in surprising ways.

May all be well,

Karen H. Webster

HSHC Co-founder/Executive Director

*Image was AI generated in Canva