Slideshow image

AS I SEE IT

By Rev. Jim Innes

RECENTLY, I was walking along a country path I had taken several times. This time, it had been freshly paved, perhaps for cyclists or for skiers in the winter.

The smooth, even surface made for a pleasant walk, and interestingly, something struck me as unusual. Despite its fresh appearance, cracks were forming, with weeds and grass sprouting through the crevices, irrepressibly!

Despite a 2-inch artificial barrier, life had punched its way into the light of day.  An inspiring reminder that Life, as a force of nature, a force of God, continuously seeks a path to flourish, irrepressibly breaking through any obstacle in its way. Through every season and every challenge, life steadily endures and adapts, just as it has since the beginning of time. It will even grind its way through heavy asphalt, busting forth and lifting us higher than we can imagine.

This scene reminded me of a story of resilience, the story of Joseph, son of Jacob. One son out of twelve, yet favoured because he was the firstborn of Rachael, his father’s beloved wife. The other sons were jealous. One day, they took Joseph away to be sold into slavery. A turn of fate that would have buried most of us beneath the heavy asphalt of despair. Yet, Joseph was full of life’s unyielding spirit. His integrity caught the attention of important political figures, and he gradually gained recognition for his wisdom and exceptional skill at interpreting dreams. Eventually, and once again, he was favoured among others. He rose to power, and the life within him reached the stars as his influence shaped a nation.

As it was with Joseph, the power of life flows as an unstoppable force. This same force is always at work within us. It is like the way life reclaims a forest after a wildfire, restoring trees, grasses, and wildflowers, sometimes more abundantly than before. This force is alive within us. It shapes and supports us; it is us! Through it, we are woven into the very fabric of the natural world, inseparable from it.

Put in another way, no matter the challenges we face, because life flows within us and through us, we are recipients of life’s regeneration, healing, and renewal. Growth and restoration will always occur. The life force continually exposes us to sunlight, and through that light, we thrive. When we notice these quiet miracles, we draw courage, trusting that growth finds a way even when we do not understand how.

Google search shows that a seed breaks through the tough crust of asphalt by tenaciously finding tiny cracks. There, it germinates and sends out flourishing roots to seek moisture and nutrients. As these roots grow, they apply steady pressure, widening the crack until a blade of grass finally appears. With unwavering patience and quiet resilience, life quietly and patiently takes shape.

I pray that as our lives unfold, the same invincible resilience of the grass seed will be our hope and our unyielding strength because in every challenge we face, there also exists the power of life, waiting, never still or subdued, slowly emerging at a pace we may not fully understand.

Rev. Jim Innes is the rector of St. John's, Grand Bend with St. Anne's, Port Franks.
jiminnes@diohuron.org