An Illustration of Growth

An interesting thought process developed today which turned into a pretty neat illustration… I don't know if I can do it justice, but I thought I’d share it with you.

I have a house plant that has been sitting in my kitchen window sill for quite some time. It outgrew the window sill quite some time ago and, because of that, I was unable to turn it around from time to time to expose all sides to the light. The result was that all of the leaves migrated to one side of the pot. The stems that were in the back pressed up, through and around the rest of the plant, pointing towards the light of the window.

As I said before, this plant had outgrown the window sill quite some time ago. For that reason, I have brought it to work and placed it on a small side table that offers better conditions for its further growth. It looks funny though, sitting on this table. The plant is not bushy all around; the leaves are fanned in an arch and pressed to the front of the pot, long ivy tendrils growing only from the left and right sides.

The little table that the plant is sitting on is against the wall that faces my desk. As I type and do my daily tasks, it is within my sight and I have thought of its further growth throughout the day.

I had initially placed the pot on the table facing the leaves outward, seeing that this was the most attractive side of the plant. But then it occurred to me that in order for the plant to become full all around, I would need to expose the other side to the brighter light.

Little factoid tidbit- Did you know that the reason a plant seems to follow the sun isn’t because the leaves are drawn to the light? It is actually because the side of the stem that is in darkness opens its pores in order to absorb more light. It is because the pores expand that the stem then bends, consequently facing the leaf towards the sun.

So, as it is right now, the plant is turned around and the not-so-attractive side is facing out.
At first glance you think that the back of the plant hadn’t grown, but upon giving it more thought, you realize that the back had grown; it was just turned within the rest of the plant...seeking the light.

SO
With all of that said, I believe there is a true illustration in this thought process. I’m sure as you were reading through, a lot- if not most of what I will now say will have already occurred to you…but I believe that it bears saying anyway.

I believe our Christian lives are very much like this plant.

We are tended to by our Loving Father. We are nurtured and turned so that we experience full growth.
We are left in seasons of our lives and then, after some time, we are turned to experience growth elsewhere.
I think there is hesitation at times to turn, because of the unfamiliar or vulnerability. I think we stay where we are comfortable and experience further growth in some areas only to stunt the rest of the growth.
In the window sill, the plant’s growth pattern made sense. Having been moved, it now seems awkward in its new environment. I believe we find ourselves doing our best to avoid these awkward situations. However, in these new environments, we can submit to God’s will and his objective will be accomplished and we will become that which He intended all along.

Factoid tidbit: The definition of “living” is “active or thriving; vigorous; strong”.

I believe that as we find ourselves living in God’s Spirit, we are able to open our hearts in areas that are yet unexposed in order to seek His Light.
And just as the plant opens its pores, it is in seeking Him that we are then facing Him.
I think it can be said that God is not always content to allow us to sit with our pretty sides facing the world, and it is by exposing our “less tended” side that we may then experience fullness in those areas.
Just as the plant is turned, and its new growth can now point outward, so too does God grow and nurture these things within us, to then turn us to point towards the world.

I believe the application is then this.
Allow the fullness of growth.
We can get comfortable in our window sills, and the tendency to resist God’s times of turning can inhibit us.
A willingness to submit to God’s timing will allow fullness to envelop our lives.
We cannot be content to only shine our pretty sides to the world and must be prepared for the times that God may wish to expose our underdeveloped sides.
Stand strong in knowing that we have the assurance that it is by seeking Him that we will remain steadfast in facing the Light that only He can provide.