Croci March 31, 2008
Posted by carpebanana in : Ramblings , trackbackIn the fall, Devastatingly Handsome planted some crocus bulbs. I am never sure how to make them plural so I go with croci.
Anyhow, Spring has finally hit the Bananadom enough to open out the croci. Seeing them open has led me into some musing about plant growth and rebirth as a believer.
We always learn in botany that plants need sunlight, water, and minerals to grow. And although that is true once the plant has begun to grow, how does the seed (or bulb) start to grow in a dark place underground ~ like the dead place of a heart without God ~ when sunlight does not in fact reach underground? And how do our hearts turn to God, when they are dead of themselves, unable to hear or respond?
(Picture thanks to my friend Jaybird.)
How did Lazarus, already dead and in the tomb, hear Christ cry “out with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out.’” and come forth?
Yesterday at evening worship, we sang Who is on the Lord’s Side (love those Arthur Sullivan tunes) and the second verse speaks of this:
But for love that claimeth lives for whom He died:
He whom Jesus nameth must be on His side.
By Thy love constraining, by Thy grace divine,
We are on the Lord’s side—Savior, we are Thine!
“love constraining” ~ an odd combination of words in a world that believes love to be a feeling to be enjoyed and that always feels good ~ does love somehow constrain the crocus, and Lazarus, and my heart to come forth to life?
Or in the old words of our catechism:
Q. 29. How are we made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ?
A. We are made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ, by the effectual application of it to us by his Holy Spirit.
Q. 30. How doth the Spirit apply to us the redemption purchased by Christ?
A. The Spirit applieth to us the redemption purchased by Christ, by working faith in us, and thereby uniting us to Christ in our effectual calling.
Thank God for making the crocus and reminding me that He calls forth life from death despite my lack of understanding how it can be so.
Comments»
I never thought aboout the plural of crocus! LOl
Loved reading your thoughts!
I need to laugh now because we were recently discussing the proper pluralization of crocus!
Ever plant any hellebores? These are called Lenten rose. There were some of these at the Cloisters. Just beautiful. And as promised, they were there during Lent.
BTW, I cheated with espaliered. I looked it up before I posted!
Peace and Laughter,
Cristina
On a whim, because it was a REALLY good sale, I ordered 50 crocus bulbs and 40 iris bulbs. I was wondering if there would be a tube of Ben-Gay thrown it the package.
d.
Amen and Amen! I often still wonder, even after the Spirit’s regenerating work in my life, how God continues to grow me, sometimes seemingly even against my will. Praise God for His abundant mercy, which could do nothing without His absolute sovereignty!
great words of wisdom…and folly! And I love those kinds of flowers too.