Debrief: a time to rest, have fun, and reflect on what happened the past month. As I sit in the basement of our hostel in Brasov Romania, worshipping with my squad, I am hit with a truth from the Father.
Our squad mentor, Kacie Tillman, always told us at training camp that we are all gardens. I took what she said as truth, wrote it in my journal, and honestly didn’t really think about it anymore. (No offense to you, Kacie…just bein real.) It’s funny how the Lord likes to bring up things from the past and reveal truth in them. Now here as we are worshipping in Romania, the song How He Loves begins to be strummed from the guitar. The Lord tells me in this moment to look around the room. Specifically He says “look around the room to see how I love them.” I look around and see my newfound family swaying, singing, weeping, laughing, dancing, worshipping. It’s a beautiful sight to see.
Then I begin to think about a garden. Full of different types of flowers, vegetables, gourds, EVERYTHING! Each of these are wonderful plants and they all require different care, grow at different speeds, produce different buds and fruits, and need to be harvested in different ways. In thinking about this in application to my squad, it all clicked.
-In the sake of different care: the Lord cares for each of us in different and creative ways. Just like plants in a garden need unique care, the Lord cares uniquely for us. For some, the Lord is loud and for others He whispers. For some, the Lord dances with them and for others He sings with them. For some, the Lord shows beauty in the big picture and for others He helps them find the beauty in the subtleties.
-In the sake of growing at different speeds: the Lord grows us at different paces and speeds, depending on where we are. Just how lettuce grows at a different speed than a watermelon, I grow differently than my squadmates. You can’t force growth upon someone, but when they are willing and wanting to grow, they will be open for more growth at a faster rate. The Lord works with us on our growth and the speed of it.
-In the sake of producing different buds and fruits: the Lord has placed different gifts and abilities in us as His creation. In a garden, we don’t expect a pumpkin to grow from a rosebush. The Lord places different gifts in each of us; for example: writing, listening, singing, visual arts, poetry, athletics, the list goes on and on. He doesn’t expect me to be a professional basketball player when He’s placed the gift of song in my heart. We all have different gifts or fruits we produce, the key is being willing to bloom.
-Lastly, in the sake of being harvested in different ways: I am taken to this evening’s worship session. I see the Lord harvesting as He goes throughout the room. I see Him watering His garden and caring for each plant in unique and creative ways. He pulls out the most raw and beautiful things He originally planted, cared for, and then harvests. Worship is such a raw time for each person uniquely… I love the sweet intimacy it brings.
Here are some great songs…
“Touch the Sky” by Hillsong United
“Rosie: by John Mayer
“To my Knees” by Hillsong United
“Take is All Back 2.0” by Judah and the Lion
“Extravagant” by Steffany Gretzinger
“Thunder” by Imagine Dragons
