seed

A Contemplative Lenten Experience: Death for Life

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Scripture: John 12:24 ESV
Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

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Have you ever watched a seed grow into a sapling? Every year my children and I watch a seed grow during lent.

We place a seed in a glass container and place a damp paper towel in the container. After a few days of making sure the paper towel stays damp, the seed enlarges in size and you find tiny roots developing. As the roots establish themselves, a stalk with two (in the case of a dicotyledon) halves emerges and over the next few days unfurls to form the leaves. The stem and the roots grow to establish a plant during which time the seed would have given all it had and shriveled up and died.

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If you haven’t tried this before I would highly recommend it. It is a powerful visual of John 12: 24 – Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

The seed is full of potential. The seed has everything it needs to flourish into a plant, God made it that way. It just needs the right environment to bloom and thrive. It needs to be buried in the soil and given water to burst out. That’s who you are – a master piece created with all you need to thrive. And it’s only when you are willing to morph or willing to give up can you flourish and bloom.

Prayer: Father thank you for giving up yourself for us. Thank you for dying so that we may life and bloom. Lord it is hard to die, please would you give us the courage and the will. Please help us Lord. In Jesus name. Amen