We must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.
2 Thessalonians 1:3
A plant I have at my office window was growing out of its original pot so much that the pot itself was cracking. So I made the move to transplant the plant into a larger pot with new potting soil. The experience ended well with the plant successfully transferred to its new bigger location for it to thrive and expand. But getting there was a little messy. I had to cut the plastic housing inside the original pot to release the roots from their confinement. Then when I put the new potting soil in the larger pot, a lot of the dirt ended up on my office floor carpeting, and the gardening gloves I bought specifically for this task immediately developed a hole in one of the fingers. Fortunately, I did find a broom and a dustpan to brush away the excess dirt, and the gloves did keep the dirt off my hands, even with the hole.
Now as I look at the newly transplanted plant, I am amazed that such a large plant had once lived in such a small space when it clearly needed more room to flourish and become the plant it was meant to be. There are many Christian metaphors that come to mind as I contemplate this experience. First, we as Christian plantings of the Lord are not meant to remain static, but to grow and develop in our faith. But that spiritual growth and that transplanting to a new mission for God can be painful and difficult before it gets good. There are literally growing pains that happen as we adjust to new challenges, new people, new tasks that are not initially easy for us. We might feel a little broken when we abandon where we have been, and we may have some weak spots that nag us along the way. But in the end the growth is good for us and expands our relationship with God and with one another in a way that deepens our roots into even richer soil of spiritual development. In the end, we need never be afraid to be transplanted by our God to a new town, a new job, a new relationship, a new role in our congregation. He will make sure that we become more and more the people he wants us to be.
