My (Mostly) Dead Succulents

Description: A Devotional by Pastor MJ Romano, First Church of La Junta, Colorado...

Pastor MJ Romano

First Church of La Junta

www.firstchurchlajunta.org

I have a gift for killing plants. I kill some more quickly than others, but none so embarrassingly as my succulents. I mean, seriously, how hard is it not to water your plants? I do it anyway.

Like many people, I just like to take care of things. And people. And problems. I am competent and capable, after all, so I like to take charge. Me. I. Not anyone else, and sometimes not even God. The Father says, “Trust me,” and I say, “Just a little bit of help won’t hurt, will it?”

But what if God doesn’t need my help? What’s that list of His attributes I had to memorize in seminary? All-knowing, all-powerful, all-present, all-good…there are more. What if I’m doing more harm than good to myself and others around me by trying to manage the universe on my own two shoulders like a very inept Atlas?

Unless the Lord builds the house,

  those who build it labor in vain.

Unless the Lord watches over the city,

  the watchman stays awake in vain. (Psalm 127:1-2)

Unless the Lord grows the succulent, those who water it water in vain. It’s a point well-taken, if hard-learned.

I bought a new succulent about a year ago. It came with very explicit instructions: One inch of water at the bottom of the pot every three weeks. Period. No more, no less. I have since followed the instructions, but only begrudgingly. I have often approached the pot on Wednesdays, hoping I can help it along, but I’ve managed to hold my watering can back.

And, you guessed it, it’s the healthiest of all my plants, growing the way God intended it to grow without any intervention from me.

We must do our part, of course. We have to work with energy at the tasks God places before us, certainly. And then, finally, when we reach the end of our own strength and good intentions, we get to let go and let God do His amazing work.

God’s grace be with you, and may your succulents thrive.

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