During the past few weeks I have again been reminded of the meaning of the word persistence as my wife and I have been weeding our flower gardens. One would think that as many weeds that we have pulled and dug out during the past 50 years, that by now weeds would be on the endangered species list, but not so. I seems that the more weeds we endeavor to destroy the more return to laugh in our faces.

     Plants have an instinct – a persistence – to want to survive and reproduce no matter what environmental conditions they find themselves in. Many may remember the deadly tornado that struck our community in June of 1979. Bertha Godfrey School was in the direct path of its destruction and left the trees behind the school literally stripped of all their leaves and left for dead. Yet within a few weeks new growth was beginning to sprout on the ravaged limbs and by fall those trees were covered with leaves. You have seen flowers and weeds growing in the cracks of sidewalks causing us to wonder how the plant could even survive in such an environment. Have you seen trees growing out of the side of mountains? A few days ago I heard the lament of wheat farmers stating that because of extreme dry conditions the wheat plants were starting to form their heads way ahead of schedule, causing the farmers to fear a very poor harvest. In each of these instances the plants persisted in growing and producing seeds for the next generation.

     In March I had the opportunity to view the 9/11 Memorial Museum in New York City. In the middle of the 9/11 campus where the twin towers once stood was this very same pear tree that is shown here that in a few weeks would find itself covered in beautiful white blossoms. Our tour guide told us that this tree had been found in the midst of the rubble left after the disaster. City workers dug up the tree, transported it to a nursery where it was given tender loving care, and eventually began to grow into the stately tree that it has become. Now standing tall at this very site of the 9/11 tragedy it serves as a reminder of persistence in preserving life.

     As Christians, how persistent are we in maintaining a relationship with God in our daily life? At times it is difficult to find time to commune with Christ through prayer and daily devotions. There seem to be so many things that are more important and need our attention than having “quiet time” with God. As Christians, how persistent are we in gathering together with our church family and worshiping together. Do we come to worship only when there are no conflicts on our personal calendar or do we make sure there are no conflicts on our personal calendar so that we can gather for worship? How persistent are we in sharing with others, Christ’s love that serves as the foundation of our faith? How persistent are we in desiring that others come to know God in the way we do? Are we persistent in our quest to produce seeds of faith and see them sprout in others?

     Paul in his letter to the Romans shares with us his idea of persistence. “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38 NRSV That’s spiritual persistence.

     The next time you pull a weed or even observe a flower blooming in the face of adversity remind yourself that as Christians we are to be persistent as we serve as disciples for Him.

God’s Blessings to you all, Pastor Walt