Tag Archives: Maturing faith

Growing in Faith

Lent

March 20, 2022

Scripture Reading: Luke 13:1-9

Then he told this parable: ‘A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he said to the gardener, “See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?” He replied, “Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig round it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.”’ –Luke 13:6-9

I do not think I have ever seen a fig tree in Oklahoma. I checked and learned that they will grow here if the variety planted is hardy enough for cold weather and watered adequately when the weather is hot. I do know that fruit trees vary in the length of time from planting to bearing fruit. Fruiting fig trees have a long juvenile period compared to other fruit trees. Most figs will not produce a crop for the first four to five years*.

I guess that is why this scripture has always puzzled me. The gardener most likely understood that the tree was developing normally as the gardener advised they give the tree another year. I was interested when I read the information about fig trees quoted above that the word juvenile was used. Jesus may be describing ways to help teenagers move through the transition from childhood to adulthood physically, mentally, and spiritually. It could as well apply to all transitions in our faith. James W. Fowler’s book, Stages of Faith: The Psychology of Human Development and the Quest for Meaning describes the transitions of faith from birth to death.  Getting stuck and staying in one of the stages is when problems arise. I must admit, I have recently wondered if many people in our society are stagnating in the terrible two’s stage of psychological development.

I also noted that the owner changed his tone after hearing the gardener’s recommendation. The owner did not say if the tree failed to produced in a year to cut it down, he gave the gardener permission to cut it down leaving the impression that it was the gardener’s decision.

This scripture draws me to read Fowler’s books again and assess where I am in my faith development. It also challenges us when we are serving in the role of helping others grow in their faith we let God guide us and practice patience.

Prayer: Lord, guide me in my faith development and when I am called to guide others. Amen.

https://homeguides.sfgate.com/fig-tree-bear-fruit-49324.html

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Terrible Twos of Faith

Christmastide

January 2, 2022

Scripture Reading:
John 1:(1-9), 10-18

He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. (John testified to him and cried out, ‘This was he of whom I said, “He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.”‘) From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known. John 1:10-18

We are a world, nation, state, city, and home caught on the cusp of being the people God created us to be or not. We are caught in the terrible twos of spiritual maturation. How we respond will carve our future. The terrible twos in the study of human maturation refers to a normal stage in a child’s development in which a toddler can regularly bounce between reliance on adults and a newly burgeoning desire for independence. The symptoms vary between children but can include frequent mood changes and temper tantrums*. In one way or another, we hear adults expressing similar frustration as we strive to transition from one form of being to one with more responsibility.

Our societal maturation follows a similar path. Jesus came to demonstrate in person the better way, the moral way, to transition into a positive world at all levels. He taught love, forgiveness, oneness, and justice, setting an example for all to follow as parents try to help their children develop. I guess his faith’s terrible twos came in the desert when the devil tried to distract him with wealth and power, and he withstood those temptations to usher in the movement toward a world and all that is in it that is ruled by love**.

Prayer: God, forgive us when we give up on growing in Spirit and truth. Grant us the peace of your love to help us through the difficult times caused by the world’s distractions. Amen.

*https://www.verywellfamily.com/terrible-twos-and-your-toddler-2634394#:~:text=The%20%22terrible%20twos%22%20refers%20to,mood%20changes%20and%20temper%20tantrums.

**Luke 4:1-13

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.