Fearless Faith

The spring blessing of new life is evident in the everyday as we emerge from a year of anxiety and concern. Amid the news of the day, old and new, are signs that life moves forward in positive ways if we choose to embrace it. Gardenwise, bulbs begin the flowering process without offering us the slightest “how do you do.” Cycles of life do not regularly consult us, which is a good thing given our propensities to meddle in things best left alone.

Some of the most tenacious posturing of spring is found in the vitality and sheer abundance of grape hyacinths. It is always a debate how many to keep each year. They make great ground cover, but as for the blooms, they are soon done for the season. Rather unprincipled, the hyacinths appear to grow without a bit of care or understanding. One admires the single-mindedness they bring to their goal. Late frosts and an errant spade are their lone enemies and life among the purple blooms is good.

In our eagerness for warmer temperatures and the greening of the gardens, we desire to hurry or force the emergence of bulbs and spring plants. We are impatient to a fault, but who can blame us knowing the blooms that will soon show? A few lessons can be taken from the lowly hyacinth regarding faith and understanding.

Patience is always helpful. Bulbs respond when they are ready to respond. As much as Christianity touts sudden and amazing conversion experiences, many persons live a lifetime in the church only to recognize that conversion experiences do not happen in the same way for all people. For some it is a lifelong process of continued growth and discernment. Many are not compelled to account for the exact moment they come into the faith, yet they also are recognized as Christians … those who follow Christ.

Fancy is okay, but consistency trumps. One can argue that the hyacinths are not all that much to look at, especially once the tulips take charge. There is beauty nonetheless in their steady reliability. Monochromatic grape is the order of the day and value is to be found in the plain and the ordinary. How do they do it every year? That may represent the fanciest part of the equation.

Like all plants, hyacinths need water, food, and growing conditions that foster growth. Even the hardiest of plants takes a degree or two of nurturing. There is some leeway involved but it doesn’t mean we ignore simple basic needs and continue to anticipate a glorious future outcome. Lack of basic care in this moment leads to disaster for the plant and its neighboring gardens.

There’s more to the plant than what we see. Evidence of how robust hyacinths are can be found just beneath the surface where bulbs are abundant. Through drier months are ahead, you somehow have confidence that here is one plant that can tough it out without missing a step in the process.

How will storms and climate affect the gardens this year? It’s anyone’s guess, but if the grape hyacinths are any measure, there is always hope.

“Speak to the earth and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In [God’s] hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.” (Job 12 8-11, NIV)