Process - Introduction

For several years a friend of mine had a bumper sticker on his SUV that read - "Been there, still there." Like most pithy phrases, that one-liner is certainly subject to multiple interpretations. My personal take on its meaning is that life is a journey and none of us are so accomplished or completed that we can claim to be done with the process or in possession of the proverbial t-shirt. Certainly, we can make and claim progress, but what we can't claim here and now is graduation from this process of soul-making called our life.

This week's scripture text speaks insightfully to this idea. Found in Mark's gospel it reads: ²⁶ Jesus also said, “The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground. ²⁷ Night and day, while he’s asleep or awake, the seed sprouts and grows, but he does not understand how it happens. ²⁸ The earth produces the crops on its own. First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens. ²⁹ And as soon as the grain is ready, the farmer comes and harvests it with a sickle, for the harvest time has come.” ³⁰ Jesus said, “How can I describe the Kingdom of God? What story should I use to illustrate it? ³¹ It is like a mustard seed planted in the ground. It is the smallest of all seeds, ³² but it becomes the largest of all garden plants; it grows long branches, and birds can make nests in its shade.” ³³ Jesus used many similar stories and illustrations to teach the people as much as they could understand. ³⁴ In fact, in his public ministry he never taught without using parables; but afterward, when he was alone with his disciples, he explained everything to them. (Mark 4:26-34 NLT)

I deeply believe that God has planted the slow but sure growing seeds of His kingdom inside the human heart. This is very good news for all of us. I could keep going here but come tomorrow and we'll talk more about what that looks like and the hope it affords us.

Hope to see you in the morning.

Stan