Day 1 of this 31 day writing challenge I planted my mustard seed of faith. I’ve now spent 10 days watering and caring for it. Today, I would say, the seed has shed its casing and is nicely burrowed in the fertile soil.

So let’s talk about what that looks like –

Diligence. This year 2015 began with that word. Diligence.

I used to like this word. It meant seeing a challenge through to the end. It meant there would be challenges. Synonyms to Diligence are words like Endurance, Perseverance, and Persistence all of which remind me of my high school cross-country days. Before a race we would huddle up, say a prayer, stack our hands and break away with enough adrenaline to carry us the first mile.

I attacked those hills and thrived on the adrenaline rush the starting line pumped in my veins. I never was a fast sprinter. I would just out distance them.

I love challenges.

Until now.

Oh I still love the rush of a new race. The shoes. The track smell. The hum of the crowd. And I love that finish line. I don’t have to finish first, just to cross the line fuels my spirit.

What that word Diligence has shown me is it’s the middle ground I despise. The in-between. The 1.5 mile marker in a 3 mile race.

It’s the point where you’re tired. The adrenaline rush from the starting line has vanished. You’re too far into it to turn around, and too far to go to get excited. There’s nothing exciting here. It’s where the rubber meets the road, and the sales pitch has faded.

That’s about where I am in my faith-seed process. My seedling is quietly germinating and frankly, it stinks.

I was excited to plant it. Eagerly, I placed my hands in the fresh, cool dirt. Excitedly I waited for the seed to sprout and grow leaves.

Which reminds me of my youngest son, Zach who participated in a bean growing science experiment. You know, where you soak beans overnight or wrap in a wet paper towel and watch them sprout over the next week? Well, guess what happened to ours….they died.

Why, you ask?

We didn’t take care of them. We let the paper towel dry out and then got it too wet. Not enough air, too much light, no room to grow.

I don’t want that to happen to my faith seed.

My faith seed requires similar attention. It needs to be delicately handled, watered and cared for. But mostly, it needs to be loved. Thankfully, unlike me, my God is the best Gardner there is.

I’m learning to trust Him in the seed germination phase. This period where nothing is showing up yet. No leaves, no roots, no fruit. But the process can’t be rushed. The future health of this plant depends on this time.

Diligence. Perseverance. Endurance. Faith.

They are fun to start, but the half-way mark is brutal. But let’s keep going anyway! Who’s with me?!

Thanks for traveling with me today.

~Julie

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I hope your faith is growing along with mine as we explore this topic of faith every day for 31 days. If you’re just now joining me, you can catch up on all my posts HERE.

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