echoes of redemption

The giant tube worm lives on the bottom of the ocean and is one of the few organisms on earth that can grow without sunlight.

And xerophites are a group of plants that grow without regular access to water.

But nothing in all of God’s creation grows without space.

Which should make those of us who want to grow ask ourselves some questions.

What do you want to do with your life? What kind of person do you want to be? Most importantly, are you giving God space to grow those things in you?

What if it meant slowing down your pace?

What if it meant observing the sabbath?

What if it meant taking a pause before you move on to the next thing?

There are a lot of things in our world we can grow, and even thrive without – but we will never grow if we don’t give God space to grow us in.

This really was an unbelievable fire – shed full of fertilizer, wooden pallets and fuel (yep, fuel – you can see the barrels if you look closely). Fortunately no one was hurt.

I took this shot when I was a senior in high school. I was a photographer for our school yearbook and happened to have my camera with me when I saw the fire. It’s probably the best photograph I’ve ever taken. Of course, what no one back then saw was what went in to that shot.

I had been studying photography for four years… and sacrificing to buy good camera equipment. I spent the afternoon at this fire – probably burned through eight rolls of film. And after all of that I got one good shot.

A lot of the times I look at other people who do something amazing and forget how much work went in to what they do. Because I don’t see the training they’ve done. The sacrifices they’ve made. The time they pour in to what they’re good at. All I see is one glimpse of one moment in their life.

Which makes me wonder if I’ve given up on some things too soon.

That I haven’t stayed dedicated to the things that matter – because no one else sees them.

That I’ve looked around myself, and instead of getting encouraged by people, I let jealously of their success discourage me.

And I quit before things get good.

So maybe it’s time we do an inventory.

What are you doing now that is going to be something you do great later?

What have you stopped doing that you should start doing again?

What’s something that no one is applauding now, but if you stick to it could change the world?

Sometimes the little things done consistently over long periods of time make the biggest differences.

When you dream about the future, do you think about your past?

The journey you’ve already traveled?

The experiences that have shaped you?

The mistakes you’ve already made?

Your path was woven with a purpose, and we believe that God works all things – good and bad – together for good.

So embrace who you are. Cherish the experiences you have had – they are what make you unique. Understand that your mistakes have shaped the character, strength and message of your life.

And that while your past does not direct where you are going, it might shape how you get there.