| My older brother loves figs. Me, not so much; however, I have grown to appreciate them though I’m not sure I will ever grow to his level of affection or be a fig aficionado. I think it has to do with the texture of figs that hold me back. Regardless, in the ancient world, figs were a delicacy. Then and now, figs are the fruit of a giant tree. In John’s Gospel, Nathanael enjoyed the shade of the fig tree when he learned of Jesus. In Luke’s Gospel, Zacchaeus climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see Jesus. Among religious Jews, sitting under a fig tree symbolizes the study of scripture. For just as the fig slowly ripens on the tree, the scriptures ripen with enlightenment to those who study. What I have learned about figs is that a tree will have more than one harvest each year. Sometimes a tree can have three different harvests because the figs ripen not all at once like an apple tree. With figs, the ones closest to the trunk ripen first. Then the ones in the middle of the branch and finally the ones on the tip of the branch. Because there isn’t a blossoming flower associated with the fruit, one can easily miss when a fig is ripe and ready to harvest. Thinking of figs, I’m mindful of two important life lessons: 1. Not everyone ripens at the same time. When dealing with people it is important to remember that our timeline might not be their timeline. Though we might long for something to happen sooner than later, we can’t control another’s development. Therefore, trust in God is crucial. We trust that God is continually working to bring about a harvest. God is the final change agent. 2. If one is not looking for the fruit, they will miss it. God is working in the world. We want to patiently participate. As led by him, directed by him, and prompted by him, we work with his Holy Spirit to bring about transformation. Just as it is crucial to trust God’s work, it is crucial to be in a continual state of discernment so that we can see what God sees. With his sight, we can see the fruit ripen and act accordingly.  This Week’s Readings: *Monday – Romans 7 *Tuesday – Romans 8 *Wednesday- Romans 9 *Thursday -Romans 10 *Friday- Romans 11 Prayer Requests: *Children’s safety as they participate in summer activities. *An immediate end to the crisis in Ukraine. *Heal those who are sick and protect those who are not. *Comfort those who are grieving and in distress. *Wisdom for our leaders as they navigate through uncertain times. *Guidance for those seeking to find their way. *Continued Growth Inside and Outside the Walls of St. Paul UMC. |
| “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done.” – Philippians 4:6 |