Flushing of the Fruit

So now, weeks after returning, I find my mind still filled with and touched by our time in Croatia. There still are things to do, one of them being working on some magnetic signs for Kent and Cheri to put on their cars as they drive around. These signs will advertise the school of English, the idea suggested by a few of our team to help them with exposure finding more students.

I drink my coffee out of a mug I purchased in Split (the suggestion via words on it works as a remembrance for me). On it (besides the name of country and city) simple fish painted in blue reminiscent of the sign of the early church. In it, sometimes my rationed Croatian coffee purchased there, and yes, I still miss the eggs! (see my earlier blog). As I imagine all that is happening there, it resonates with a distinct similarity to that which is here. The sole description and soul description is this sense is that both ministries are on the brink of explosion, a dynamic, far reaching expansion engulfing beyond what could be considered humanly possible.

On my citrus trees, there are beautiful, fragrant blossoms that hold the promise of fruit on it's way. There is an explosion of fragrance and flower that fills me with anticipation, and then after being infused with pollen, fertilizing the flower, they wither and die. The process seems to have failed. Next, a small bulb appears, and if watered well, slowly inflates, hidden amongst the color of surrounding leaves. If one were not to look close and examine the tree, one might think there is no fruit. But in time, little by little the branches become laden with dark green globes and growing anticipation rises in the soul of its consumers.

Here, is the stage of which, I find myself resting. With anticipation of fruit, for the fertilization has occurred, the infusion of fullness giving rise to the the abundance. Now is the time for water and final care if the fruit is to flourish, filling the tree. Now is the time for the presence of the fruit to become known.

As the globes bask in the sunlight, their color begins to give away their presence as they flush from green to orange (for my navel and cara cara orange trees), or green to yellow (for my meyer lemon tree). It requires patience, waiting for the fruit to fully ripen on the tree, for the flush takes quite a while, yet, when finally ripe, nothing sings of sweetness, as that of these oranges dripping with full, flavorful glory.

Could this be Inpirata? Could this be New Heights Community Church? Could this be our nation? Is the fruit becoming ripe? Is time pressing on toward harvest? God's word promises fruit for the faithful. Are we even on the path of the faithful? I believe many of us are, and now is the time. Tend to the trees, make preparations for the flushing of the fruit, the flooring flavor of the fruit, filling, yes dripping with sweetness of the glory of the Holy Spirit resting upon us, leading us to new heights in Christ's kingdom. Pray for our nation, our people, our communities, our churches. It's time to move ahead with Christ with the flushing of our fruit, declaring the glory of our God, taking back what is rightfully His, the enjoyment of the fruit of our Lord.