Not the Same, It's Different!

There was a surprise sitting just outside the labyrinth today. After a full week of rain, one of the big agaves is pushing out a shoot! These agaves can get to about three feet in diameter and several feet tall. This one will eventually bloom lots of little baby agaves from this shoot.

Do you see how similar this looks to the bamboo shoots? They are not at all the same, tho’!

Now look, after a full week of rain for the bamboo, they are soaring up over the roof! Tho’ similar, these two plants are worlds apart in their sun, water and soil preferences. One shoot will grow to be forty feet tall and the other maybe ten. And the agave shoot will actually produce hundreds of little flowers, that will then become little baby agaves. (just like other plants produces seeds, this guy produces already formed plants…promise pics one day!)

See?  God has created all his creation with specific things we are to do and ways we grow. For me, if we all liked the same things, dressed the same way, ate the same things, it would make for a pretty boring world, don’t ya think?

We were never intended to look alike, or behave the same. God decorated His world with the beauty of His design in each of us.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:2

We’re also not to conform to this world. Same-ness and conformity are tricks of the evil one. They may be dressed up all nice, but we should always ‘test’ what we think is a growing opportunity against God’s Word. Another beautiful thing is that God has given us the capacity to continue to grow for our entire lives! He gave us teachable hearts, minds that can always be transformed to the desire of our Lord. We may choose to stop growing, but His desire is that we are renewed and growing in Him, with Him always...

You would not want to be trying to grow like an agave when you’re really a Giant Timber Bamboo, now would you?!

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11