"Stay or go?"
Consider Hedges:
Last week, our our pastor mentioned hedges and their purpose, characteristics and make-up. Protection is their purpose. Time is necessary to get them established and people are needed to create and assemble the hedge. The metaphor here is both the physical assembly of a border of plants, taking time to grow and develop into a worthy boundary, as well as investing in relationships of sufficient quality.
Last week, our our pastor mentioned hedges and their purpose, characteristics and make-up. Protection is their purpose. Time is necessary to get them established and people are needed to create and assemble the hedge. The metaphor here is both the physical assembly of a border of plants, taking time to grow and develop into a worthy boundary, as well as investing in relationships of sufficient quality.
The people are the real keys. We need other people in our lives to form
that hedge. We are to groom them,
nourish them and weed them, supplying the attention and cultivation necessary
for any successful growing project.
Now think about planting gardens:
Jump ahead a week, while the hedge metaphor is still developing all the various life applications, and consider thoughts from this reading in Jeremiah. The People have been moved hundreds of miles from their former homelands. The teacher has written them a letter. In it he suggests they settle down, plant gardens, have children marry and make grandchildren. He mentions supporting and building infrastructure and securing an environment for the growth and prosperity of everyone. He tells them prosperity is at hand and there are blessing in store!
The author wants to encourage these transients to stay, plant gardens, invest in the local community and flourish, without second guessing or wishing about being anywhere else, even if it was called the "promised land."
Jump ahead a week, while the hedge metaphor is still developing all the various life applications, and consider thoughts from this reading in Jeremiah. The People have been moved hundreds of miles from their former homelands. The teacher has written them a letter. In it he suggests they settle down, plant gardens, have children marry and make grandchildren. He mentions supporting and building infrastructure and securing an environment for the growth and prosperity of everyone. He tells them prosperity is at hand and there are blessing in store!
The author wants to encourage these transients to stay, plant gardens, invest in the local community and flourish, without second guessing or wishing about being anywhere else, even if it was called the "promised land."
Necessary to their success? Time!
Blend both these lessons together, one of a hedge built of people and another of settling down, planting roots and growing a future and it sounds like the message we should hear. Stay here in Troy. Know God wants to bless us. Develop gardens of people, nourishing relationships and connections, as well as fruit trees and vegetables.
Blend both these lessons together, one of a hedge built of people and another of settling down, planting roots and growing a future and it sounds like the message we should hear. Stay here in Troy. Know God wants to bless us. Develop gardens of people, nourishing relationships and connections, as well as fruit trees and vegetables.
We need to be in community. Relationships are where others can hold us
accountable. Planning a hedge
demonstrates the investment and intention to stay. A willingness to invest, wait for the return
and then reinvest again shows trust, vulnerability and speaks to a better
future.
Maybe that is the reason we are in Troy?! Maybe we are not really in exile at all but
right where we need to be!
Jeremiah 29:5-7 Build homes, and plan to stay. Plant gardens and eat the food they
produce... Work for peace... It's welfare
will determine your welfare.
Should we stay or should we go? These thoughts point to the direction of staying!
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