Seedlings

Like seeds in the ground, watch God’s Word grow in your heart

by Jennifer Louie

Why am I here?

This question taunts her. She is six hours and twenty minutes away from home. She drove through bumper-to-bumper traffic in the hazy city, endless suburbs, winding highways in a massive desert, and two national parks to this sleepy suburban street in a new state.

Now, she’s so far from the neighborhood she knew like the grooves of her own hand, and her own face in the mirror. 

This freshly painted house, with lofty ceilings and ample space feels so different and bare and quiet. It's chilly here, and the skies are ashy gray. This is not home. Her heart feels heavy and hollow. 

Moving out here seemed like a great idea, before…

The previous owners left stacks of dusty pots of all shapes and sizes in the yard. She buys some soil and a bunch of seed packs. The seeds are microscopic unassuming husks, so delicate. She sprinkles the seeds into the moist soil, skeptical that any life can come from these tiny seeds.

She waits.

While unearthing treasures from cardboard box mountains, she pulls out a dusty, weighty Bible she forgot she had. It was a gift from a religious friend back in high school. She hasn’t opened it in years. 

Hm…what’s actually written in there? What do I really believe? she asks herself.

The next day, she wakes up, heats hot water for tea, and wanders to her comfy chair. Stifling a yawn, she cracks open the Bible. Flipping through the tissue paper-thin pages of the introduction, she starts with the very first chapter.

She begins to examine the ancient stories, and like a detective, logs her questions and observations. 

She begins to make this her daily ritual.

A week later, she wanders outside to check on the pots. She's delighted to discover itty-bitty, shamrock-green seedlings popping out of the soil! Some push out a few inches: skinny stems with soft buds, while others fan out with feathery leaves. 

As she reads the Bible, the stories draw her in: some are captivating; others are bizarre or puzzling. Every chapter stirs up more questions. Do people REALLY know what’s written in here? she wonders. 

She notices how the spiritual stories pop into her head during the day. She’s surprised by how new thoughts start to challenge her rock-solid assumptions. Old hurts start to fade, and she feels a fresh tenderness in her heart.

Curiously, her life also starts to feel more colorful and alive.

New friendships bloom: at the grocery store, in a meetup group, when neighbors invite her over. She even ventures into a Bible study—the last place she thought she’d ever be! Her fridge becomes crowded with photos and cards, grinning faces and kind words from all these new acquaintances.

Like drifting clouds move imperceptibly across the sky till it's spotlessly blue, day by day, this place has come to feel like home. 

She returns to her yard and lets the sun envelop her in its radiance. It warmly reminds her that winter has ushered in a new season: spring!

She beams as she checks on her pots: once barren, now brimming with a splashy array of petunias and pansies, geraniums and zinnias. 

She marvels at these little miracles.

~~

Jennifer Louie is a writer based in Los Angeles. She loves finding wonder in the ordinary and exploring culture, faith, and living in more connected ways. She’s most inspired when she's unplugged and frolicking in the outdoors! Connect with her at wordsthatflourish.substack.com.

Photos by Markus Spiske, Jonathan Kemper and Ishank Kumar