Where's the Fruit?

 I started writing this blog a week ago. Scribbled out on a scrap piece of paper as I waited for my son to finish his mowing job. Monday was the day I planned to type it out, but I found myself mowing instead. Why was I mowing when there are four perfectly capable men on this property who would have gladly mowed the lawn? I had dishes to do and laundry to fold and a garden to weed, yet mowing is how I decided to spend my evening. I told myself it was because mowing is more satisfying than my other chores. Dishes and laundry never seem to be done. But, after I get done mowing I can admire the smooth lawn for days! But, then, as I finished my last round on the mower in the dim light of dusk, I remembered what I had planned to do Monday evening: Write this blog!

 I know I am not the only writer who struggles with procrastination. But, why do we? Especially when we love writing so much? I'm not sure, but I think it may be because there is a finality to typing my thoughts out. Once I hit "publish" this idea will be solidified. Monday evening it was still fluid. Flowing in and out of my mind as I mowed around the trees and down the little hills, choosing what to cut short and what to leave long. In fact, I may not even use my notes from last week after all. 

So much has happened since last Thursday.

But, this blog isn't about what has happened since Thursday (at least I don't think it will be). It is about another Feast Day that is coming up this weekend. Some know it as "Shavuot", but most of you know it by the Christian name of "Pentecost". 

Do you remember Passover?   ~ 50 days ago. 

We remembered the ancient Israelites becoming free from the bondage of slavery. We remembered the sacrifice our Savior paid to rescue us from the bondage of sin. Some of us ate unleavened bread. 

The climate where I live is usually still cold and wet at Passover time and this year was no exception. The branches on the deciduous trees were bare and brown. It was hard for me to tell which trees were dead and which ones were just resting. But now, everything is alive. I have watched the miraculous explosion of life in the plants and animals around me. Trees that seemed dead at Passover time are now leafed out and covered with singing birds and humming bees. New flowers have bloomed each week since then.

If the Feast Days are a picture of our walk with Christ I imagine Passover time portraying a new believer. They might not look all that different at first. At least not on the outside. But something new IS alive inside of them. Growth is happening.

Did you know God commanded His people to do something between Passover and Pentecost? Leviticus 23: 15 & 16 describe it. We are to COUNT! Each evening we count by ones. Each week we count by sevens. Until we have reached seven weeks or forty-nine days. The next day, day fifty, is Pentecost. (I hope I have that right.)

Pentecost is the anniversary of Israel receiving the written law. Exodus 19 begins this story. It is also the anniversary of the followers of Christ receiving the Holy Spirit.  This story is in Acts chapter 2. The law was written on hearts along with the power of God to do what He says.

One of the first years I celebrated Shavuot/Pentecost I called my aunt in Israel. I was confused. Somehow, when I started counting, as I watched the trees explode into lush, green masses of life, I presumed I would see fruit by Pentecost. But, here I was, staring at my cherry tree and seeing nothing but green. No red, pink, or even yellow. 

"There isn't fruit here in Israel either," she said. "That's why it is called firstfruits." I didn't even try to figure that one out. I had no first ripe anything to bring to the table. But, this year, surrounded by very much alive everything, my mouth watering for the berries that should be ripe any day now, I wondered what spiritual lesson is in all this.

Do we expect spiritual fruit to be manifested in our lives, or in the lives of those around us, without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit? 

Without the POWER from ON HIGH, we cannot reach our full potential. 

May God bless you with a fresh anointing of Ruach HaKodesh, His Holy Spirit, this weekend. And, may we all bear much fruit this summer.

3 Important Plants for Beginning Foragers to Avoid

The last time I wrote about plants I wrote about three edible plants for beginners. If you are feeling the urge to go out and nibble weeds, you must also educate yourself on what to avoid. Today I am going to tell you about 3 common, yet poisonous plants: Buttercup, Yew, and the infamous, deadly Hemlock (Hint: It is NOT a tree!)

Buttercup

One of the things I love the most about living in the country is the wildflowers. When I first moved out here I was a newlywed. We had our own little house with our very own, empty flowerbeds. I excitedly requested buttercup starts from a neighbor and planted them right next to our doorstep. I have always loved buttercups and thought they would be a lovely addition to our yard. My husband wasn't as pleased as I thought he would be, and now, 22 years later, I understand why. I have come to realize that buttercups are not as innocent as their name and appearance suggest.

Those delicate, shiny petals look so inviting, but, dear one, they are oh so deceptive. If the horrible taste doesn't convince you to spit it out, you will soon be rewarded with painful blisters on your tongue, and, if swallowed, pain throughout your digestive system.

If you decide to eat more than a nibble you probably won't die. But, you may wish you were dead instead of laying in a hospital bed experiencing unpleasant symptoms and procedures.

Yeah, the sweet little buttercup is not a friend when it comes to looking for sustenance. 

Yew

Next comes the beautiful Yew. This small, evergreen was quite possibly growing in your grandparents' front yard. It has attractive red berries that many children grow up nibbling, oblivious to the harm they are protected from by not chewing their food. Most children will either spit out the seed or swallow it whole, which is fine. If they were to chew a few seeds, needles, or even bark (kids do strange things sometimes), they would start feeling nauseous and may experience changes in their heart rate. 

Yew wood is said to be the most poisonous wood of any tree. The needles are poisonous also, but it would take eating a couple handfuls of pokey needles to kill a person. 

In spite of the toxicity of this tree, it is rare for someone to die by eating Yew. 

There are many edible berries and also many large evergreen trees whose needles and even inner bark CAN be eaten. 

So, please, remember: Don't Chew Yew!

Hemlock

The third plant is poison hemlock. It still exists and is just as deadly as it was 1,000 years ago. It has spread to many regions of our beautiful world. 

Poison hemlock is a plant, not a tree. There is a tree with the word hemlock in the name. It is not poisonous.

This plant is why I have yet to forage any plant that resembles parsley or carrot, no matter how much it looks or smells like the plants in my garden. 

It has a round stem, splattered with red blotches as if to warn any passerby of its intent. The foliage is feathery and lush, kind of like a carrot. The flowers are lacey and delicate like Queen Anne's Lace. Do not touch. Steer clear. This beautiful plant is deceptive and cruel. I don't think I need to go into detail about the harm it can cause. 

Hemlock used to be a rare plant but now grows all over Europe, North America, and even parts of Asia. Why anyone introduced it to the Americas I have no idea, but it has spread to every state as of this writing. 😡

I believe there is a purpose for every created thing, so I am sure there must be a reason for each one of these plants. But, the purpose is most definitely not for human consumption! 

If you plan on foraging for edibles, please make sure you have thoroughly researched the plants on your property. If you aren't absolutely sure of a plant's identification, steer clear of it! There are plants that can give you rashes, or even kill you. 

I purposely am not sharing pictures of the plants that I am discussing. My hope is that you will do your own research! Buy a plant identification book for your area, or find someone local who can point out edible plants.

Even plants that are not poisonous can seem that way if you are allergic to them. So, always proceed with caution when you are exploring.

Have fun in the sun exploring God's creation! 😄

What an Old White Man Taught me About Compassion

In today's culture, there are many stories of people who have been mistreated by those close to them. Stories on my Facebook newsfeed tell of friends learning to stand up for themselves against bullies. We applaud them and pray for those who are trapped in abusive relationships. We look for resources to help those mistreated. But, a couple weeks ago I heard a conversation that ended completely differently than I had come to expect on Facebook.

Someone brought up a confrontational subject. 

Someone else teased.

And, suddenly it was war!!!

The teasing turned quickly to anger followed by threats.

How often have we seen this play out on social media? Soon there is a mob mentality, with everyone voicing their opinions, people blocking others, and reporting posts.

But, this time the comments stopped abruptly after only two people commented. Within two hours the post disappeared. I knew family or friends of the author had helped calm the situation. 

I know the author. I know this person is often angry and says things that are hurtful. But, I also know this person is very much loved. And, he/she is not dangerous. 

I wrote to the other person in the conversation, who had been verbally attacked. My heart hurt for the older gentleman. He didn't deserve to be treated this way. 

But, he wasn't nursing hurt wounds. He didn't sound defeated. 

He said, "I love him!"

He didn't say it was okay, but he acknowledged his part in the flare-up (though from my perspective he was innocent). He bore no grudge against his lifelong friend. 

I, being a woman of many words, continued jabbering about how I just don't understand. And, even though a person has brain injuries, disabilities, or trauma, that is no excuse to treat people like that!

He said, "We had a wonderful childhood. We grew up like brothers. I love him and his family." 

He explained that, while the church community he grew up in didn't get everything right, they were a close and supportive family. As he grew he realized that their tribe (a modern-day term, not his wording) was not perfect. In fact, not one human in all of scripture (except for Jesus) was without flaws. Some had very glaring faults! No one got everything completely right.

He told me that the Body of Christ is made up of many diverse, flawed people from all denominations and walks of life.

Then, he said, "Forgiveness is a crucial key to us Christians!" 

I have heard that statement before. In fact, I have a shirt somewhere that says, "Forgiveness is key." But, somehow the word crucial made it more than a good saying. Not just a truth that would help us live a more meaningful life, but necessary for survival in the Kingdom of God!

I'm not old and wise yet. I still lash out in anger when I feel I am not being heard. I don't think I have ever reacted correctly in a stressful situation. So, who am I to judge someone who is also flawed- like me?

As a mom, I have been treated badly. I've been bitten, thrown up on, slapped in the face, and stepped on. Not to mention kicked in the ribs! But, none of those things made me block my precious babies from my life. 

Why not?

Because my love for them was greater than the pain inflicted by my little one!

I understood the maturity level of a preborn infant or even a toddler. And, most of the time... well, some of the time anyway, I chose to handle the situation with maturity and grace. But to show that grace to someone who is older and should know better?!

Well, am I ever shown grace and mercy when I don't deserve it?

I loved the little sermon. I have been pondering it for over a week. This is part of why I didn't write a blog post last week: I was still digesting this lesson, and I guess I still am. I don't think I will fully grasp it until I am an old white woman, or maybe even not until I am made new in the Kingdom of God.

My wise friend shared Ephesians 4:13 with me:

"..until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, as we mature to the full measure of the stature of Christ."

I will end with something else he said:

 "We are all imperfect children of the perfect God."

[Please note that I am definitely NOT suggesting criminals, like domestic violence perpetrators, be shown mercy and grace. God was very clear about telling His people to protect themselves from certain people, and not show them mercy.]