Jump The River

“Jump the river, Grampa,” Jaxon says as he jumps across the crack on the sidewalk.

Yesterday I had a gloriously special time with Jaxon, 4 ½, in Everett, walking round the blocks several times near Rucker Hill. He often would run ahead of me, like he was racing, looking over his shoulder from under his orange stocking hat, wondering if I’m keeping up. I call out, “Stop”, but he keeps running until he comes to a driveway, then he stops on a dime and waits. He even took Grampa’s hand to help keep him (Grampa) safe when we crossed at a corner. Then we were walking along a street near a ravine and saw a trail switch-backing down to the tiny stream at the bottom. The sign said it was “FORGOTTEN CREEK NATURE AREA”. So, we took the path to the bottom, winding down, across log bridges, to the board walkway atop the marsh at the bottom. Then we turned around and went back up. That's when he identified which of the letters on the sign he recognized.  When the big dogs came barking to the fence and gate, he held on a bit tighter and our pace increased until we felt safe again.


What a glorious day! And, it ended with Jaxon saying “My legs are tired, Grampa!” and he consented to a piggy back ride, rare for those little legs; he usually wants to be independent! What a special pleasure to have him ride piggy-back!!!

Waiting at a coffee shop, Jaxon asked for a treat, so I sprung for a snack, even though there was a snack in the car (we weren’t in the car).

How like this is to walking with Jesus! He leads us in exploring new territory in our lives, taking us to places full of wonder, although sometimes we just wonder about the places He takes us. We run ahead, and, in concern for our safety, He speaks through His Word to tell us to stop in dangerous places. He smiles when we recognize something special we have learned.  When the places are frightening, He allows us to hang on more tightly, reassuring us that He is there right beside us to take care of us. And, when we are too tired to go on, He carries us. At the middle, the beginning, and the end, He provides refreshment for us. This is the picture of Psalm 23

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

He must take as much pleasure in the walk as I do, if yesterday was an accurate picture of my walk with Him. Sooooo glad that He encourages us to “jump the river” and walk with Him. Soooo glad for the special afternoon with Jaxon!

The Lesson of the Banana

When I was visiting Centro Christiano de Alabanza in Costa Rica 5 plus years ago, we spent an afternoon with their school faculty at a Banana Plantation near the Atlantic coast. When we first came into the plantation, we could see the trees growing bananas… each trunk had one huge bunch of bananas encased in a blue plastic bag open on the bottom. The bag had small slits, so air could go in and out, but insects couldn’t. I learned that each banana tree grew for 9 months and produced one bunch of bananas; then it died, and new ones come up from around it. When they cultivated bananas, they always had one stalk to carry the fruit, which would die when finished, and a “follower” stalk coming to produce fruit 9 months later. There are some obvious lessons that parallel Colossians 1:6-- NIV-- 6 All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth.

The gospel is bearing fruit—like the banana tree. Earlier Paul had written the Colossians that the gospel was the good news about faith, hope, and love available, as he tells in verse 6 through God’s grace—not our own effort. All around us the gospel is bearing fruit on the stalks of those we follow.

This gospel fruit, however, was not just a local fruit, but universal—available all over the world produced everywhere God’s good news of grace is active.

And, like the banana tree, there was death in the process. The main stalk gives its life to produce fruit, then dies. Jesus died for us so He could live in us and produce this fruit—faith, hope, and love, and that these three would permeate our relationships and, like the banana tree, spring off into other lives. The lesson of the banana and the lesson of Jesus is one: There is always some sort of dying to produce fruit.