Great FAITH, Excellent HOPE

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

Hebrews 11:1

The author of this epistle discusses the premise of this verse. In meaning, he shares that faith is a principle of belief regarding matters hoped for. Specifically, things yet to be seen. It encompasses the complete acceptance of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Requiring no questions and with deep conviction of the heart regarding everything in the present and the glorious gifts to come.

Gifts for everyone are different. My requests are often quite simple and uncomplicated. Right now, the gifts I hope for come in what the elements provide to me through my garden bounty each year. In particular, the type of corn I will plant in May, to make brooms to clean the home. To likewise, give to friends who craft, and to those who appreciate gifts from nature. Nonetheless, there are more…

It has been just about two weeks since I reached out to my friends who are farmers. My last communication was to check in and my asking for a few okra seeds. I did not have any. They didn’t either. The lack of such seeds could be that I’ve never attempted to grow this nutritious vegetable in Colorado. A decision probably based on a conversation I had with a fellow gardener several years ago. The story goes that her family moved from the Southern region of the United States (US), and as an avid gardener, she tried to grow some vegetables of her native state. Okra was one of them. Every year she tried, the seed produced vegetation, but no vegetable. Therefore, the family just gave up.

I listened to her and thought, should I even try to grow this vegetable here in Colorado? Of course, I’d already determined the answer, since I was aware that friends were successful in producing bushels of okra in Louisiana. I then concluded that I could just reap some of their harvests. And I did just that.

But this year is different. In January, the seed catalogs started to appear. I enjoy seeing all the new varieties of available heirloom seeds. With eagerness, I flipped each page! I came to the sections on okra. They were offered in black, purple, and green. In the past, I would just skip over this section. This time though, I lingered. I thought of the recipes I recently revisited, which included the many spices of Africa, Asia, and South America, and their sweet caress on this vegetable. At that moment I knew I must attempt to grow okra in Colorado, especially since I am not in the South as much these days.

In life sometimes, the experience of others, tends to create frail specific endeavors, dreams or attempts. In my case, the gentle gesture of placing a certain seed in the ground, with good hope, was eclipsed by one simple conversation on gardening. Attributes and works of well, come only from God. He is “I AM”. In His words, He is all things, to include the gardener and farmer of hearts and of land. In addition, He comes in three beings whose characteristics are clearly defined! The Triune! Now, why must I ever so often try to go it alone? Almost always, a waste of time…I say!

The okra seeds I desired arrived about a few days ago. They came from a seed saver of a seed-keeping group I am a part of. He lives in Vermont. His only request was that from the okra I receive through the harvest, that I share some of the seeds with others. I called my farmer friends to tell them the news. They were excited to know this. 

The seed saver’s note continued by saying, “I know these seeds will germinate for you. May God bring you a great harvest.”

Faith is indeed the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. The faith of the seed saver came through loud and clear. My lighting system and germination mats are in place, and the seeds will be planted next week. My faith is strong, and my hope remains.