Dearest Members of Bethlehem,
“The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man
took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it
has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree,
so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” -
Matthew 13:31-32 (ESV)
Have you seen your first one? Maybe you wish you hadn’t seen it.
That bright yellow pop that breaks up the green in your pristinely
manicured lawn. Some hard-working folks treat their lawns and keep
a sharp eye all the time, but somehow - someway they appear… the
dandelions.
I certainly don’t want to sound defeatist here, no actually, I kind of
do… you won’t win this fight. Here’s what you need to know.
Dandelion seeds can travel 100 kilometers without anyone’s help.
They can grow almost anywhere. The dandelion spans the globe.
And it is the most commonly picked plant world-wide.
It’s a marvel of natural engineering. It all starts with that recognizable
bright yellow flower. In a couple days, the flower fades. Then, those
beautiful wispy florets take the flower’s place. The white floret is what
we liked to blow into the neighbor’s yard as children. Some even
made a wish upon dispersing the seeds. “I wish my neighbor’s yard
would be full of weeds next week!” And… wish granted!
Yes, a single plant can populate a hectare in a year. And then, the
next year, that hectare might produce a hundred million new seeds.
What a nuisance, right? What an imposition!
Well, I guess that depends on your perspective. Butterflies and honey
bees depend upon dandelion pollen. For years, the dandelion leaves
were a common and necessary food for the people populating our
planet. By the way, those jagged little leaves gave the dandelion its
name, from the french, lion’s teeth. Those leaves are full of vitamins.
The teas made from them have great medicinal value. And you might
find this surprising, but humans also figured out how to make
dandelion wine.
We just can’t keep it under control! It’s kind of like mustard in that
regard, and so… before you go yanking it out of the ground by the
roots, know this; the kingdom of heaven may be compared to
dandelions.
Dandelions are of immense value and despite the best efforts of those
dead set against it, you will not thwart its spread. It is always in the
process of popping up where we least expect it and is absolutely
ready to take over. Thanks be to God!
Question for reflection: Where is the most amazing place you have
ever seen a dandelion sprout?
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Dan
Gracious Lord, you are truly omnipresent. There is absolutely no
where to hide from your goodness; your grace will find us, often when
we least expect it. And so, when your blessings come floating into our
lives, give us the courage to not only wish for but enact a better world.
We pray this all in Jesus’ name, Amen.