Memories and Seasons

Pastors often reflect upon the unquantifiable nature of our work.  We can get to the end of a week, a month, a year, and wonder whether we actually achieved anything of significance.

Perhaps that's why so many enjoy manual tasks like building; the outcome at the end of a day is clearly measurable.  Perhaps that's why so many quit during conflict - the difficult times are so stark; the good times are often hidden. And then occasionally God gives us a glimpse of the fruit that has resulted from our sowing. 

In the past month:

• A boy I taught in Sunday School is ordained as a Minister
• A missionary whom we sent out many years ago fortuitously preaches his last sermon with the Mission at my current church before commencing as Pastor to his sending church
• A man whom I led to faith and baptised becomes the key lay leader in his local church
• A couple whose marriage was in deep trouble when I counselled them several years ago joyfully celebrate their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary

We don't always see the end outcomes of pastoral work.  The glimpses we get are acts of grace.  And I recall the wise counsel of Ecclesiastes 11:1 "Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again".

I've just returned from a refreshing weekend in the North West of Victoria.  The land is dry and dusty.  The grass - what remains of it - is brown.  And yet, for as long as they are able to continue to do so, the farmers sow.  And the farmers hope.  Maybe this time conditions will change.  Maybe this time there will be a harvest.  Maybe they need to change the seed that they sow.  One thing is certain: if they stop sowing there will be no harvest.  I'm reminded of the next few verses of Ecclesiastes.

Ecclesiastes, chapter 11, verses 1 - 6

Send your grain across the seas,
      and in time, profits will flow back to you.

But divide your investments among many places,
      for you do not know what risks might lie ahead.

When clouds are heavy, the rains come down.
      Whether a tree falls north or south, it stays where it falls.

Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant.
      If they watch every cloud, they never harvest.

Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things.

Plant your seed in the morning and keep busy all afternoon, for you don’t know if profit will come from one activity or another—or maybe both.

As in the natural world; so too in the spiritual.

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Comments

[Paul]

One of the greatest influences in my life was my father. And one of the vivid memories I have of him was when I frequently saw him kneeling at his bedside, or in his study, praying for us kids. He faithfully continued this practice up until his death.

None of us were without our faults, so my Dad had a lot to pray about. But my dear brother was often the subject of father's prayers. He had wandered far from the commitment to the Lord that he had made as a lad, so Dad bought his name before God with particular emphasis.

Dad passed away in 1999. My brother has just recently renewed his Christian commitment.

God is faithful, but we don't always see the results.

[beth]

...and a woman who,9 years ago as a young mum, still breastfeeding her second baby, you encouraged to take a mindblowing faith risk and explore how God might use her in a (scary scary) staff role in a church, this week has applied for a denominational role encouraging others in ministry, and begun work on the final essay to complete her M.Div.

I'm so glad you didn't wait for 'perfect weather' to plant...because with me there never would have been a harvest.

How does this idea of not waiting for perfect weather inform our decision making as a body? - I guess you don't plant if there's a storm raging either...but getting the seed into the ground has to be the objective, not finding a nice sunny day.

[Beck]

This just reminds me David of the fact that we will never know the true effects of our work on earth. We don't always know the consequences of our actions and words and service. So we serve, trusting in God to use as He sees fit.