It is the time of the year when the pigeons provide entertainment as they perform acrobatics in pursuit of the holly berries on our small tree. Watching them the other day reminded me of this tree’s story.
Several years ago I was weeding under our fence and noticed a seedling in all the wrong place. I left it to see what happened. It grew and after a year or two it started bending the fence panel out of its way. It happened that the panel needed replacement, so the plan was hatched to move the fence and leave the tree. Our holly tree now has its own special designer fence at disproportionate cost, when we allow for the four extra concrete posts involved.
In the Parable of the Sower [Mark 4:1-9] Jesus talks about the different places that seed may fall. Some seedbeds are better than are others. We are taught to think of the practice of broadcasting seed as an explanation for the way the seed fell as described by Jesus. The tree in the picture will have been transported by a former generation of pigeon which sat on our fence and deposited the seed having previously eaten a berry elsewhere – or that is my assumption.
I made sure that the seed that fell beside the pavement under the fence had its chance. In that spirit there are many opportunities for nurturing the seedlings of faith. Sometimes there are fixed obstacles that seem threatening, but they may not be as immovable as they appear. The benefit of a new tree outstrips the hassle of moving the fence – the tree will be there for years, and the fence had only to be moved once.
I could have moved the seedling. I thought about it and decided that on balance it should grow in the environment in which it took root.
A Prayer
Lord, help us accept the cost of nurturing faith wherever it springs up and not to move it to what we consider to be the right place. You preached beside a lake and taught beside a well; come to us where we are and show us how to be faithful in the busty world. We thank you that you sustain our faith whatever the hassles and the cost. Amen.