Growing and Changing

It’s lovely to go the green grocer or the supermarket and find fresh fruit and vegetables locally grown.  When we drive here and there into Vancouver or out into the Fraser Valley the acres and acres of land under cultivation for vegetables and berries goes as far as the eye can see. 

There’s one stretch of road I like that I regularly drive down that has planted fields with corn and the height of the stalks changes pretty dramatically in just a few short weeks.  This is growing season here in British Columbia.

I was thinking today about the people who work those long rows of berries and other crops.  They come from impoverished circumstances, work hard in difficult conditions and still manage to produce so much that we enjoy.  Can we take a moment and pray for them together. 

Loving God, we want to lift up migrant workers who come to Canada from various parts of the world.  They long for a better life for themselves and their families and so they are willing to leave their loved ones behind to come from a distance and work.  We bless them for their willingness to work hard in what is often hot backbreaking labour.  Protect their health.  Protect their families. 

We pray for those who hire them to deal with them justly and give them fair compensation for the work they do along with decent living conditions.  Amen

The object of the harvest is not the workers but the harvest isn’t it?  Jesus spoke often about growing things and that includes these familiar words:

Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.  He cuts off every branch of mine that does not produce fruit.  He also trims every branch that produces fruit to prepare it to produce even more.  John 15:1-2

Loving God, You know one season from the next and You know what to do in our lives in order to have us to be fruitful at the right time. There’s a time for planting, for growing, for weeding, for watering, and for harvesting.  Each season has its unique value and we pray to allow the seasons of life to go forward under Your watchful care and to allow You to shape us and mature us through it all so we are fruitful people.

Help us to submit willingly to what You know needs doing in our lives, whether we understand what You are doing or not.   When our lives are in Your care, God, we know Your Holy Spirit works in us to produce abundant and good fruit at the right time.  Amen

So I hope that as we eat fresh produce today we will give thanks for all the hard work that has gone into getting it to our tables and also ask God to help us work under His guidance and direction to be fruitful ourselves.