Genesis 1:11-12 “Then God said, “Let the land produce plants. Let them bear their own seeds. And let there be trees on the land that bear fruit with seeds in it. Let each kind of plant or tree have its own kind of seeds.” And that’s exactly what happened.  The land produced plants. Each kind of plant had its own kind of seeds. The land produced trees that bore fruit with seeds in it. Each kind of tree had its own kind of seeds. God saw that it was good.

Smell with me the air when it is about to rain.  Look at creation and see the anticipation that the coming rain brings. Take a good look at the leaves before the rain comes.   Listen to the first drops of rain as they touch the leaves of the plants around and watch the plants’ posture. Upturned leaves lifted to the heavens to take in every drop of the rain.  The leaves seem to drink and absorb all the water that cascades over them. Look at these same leaves after the shower of rain.  They are transformed in their physical appearance: greener, brighter, shinier. Ready to reproduce themselves in the world. 

What we often don’t pay attention to is the internal process that a plant goes through to reproduce and sustain itself. There is absorption of water by the plant from the soil via its roots.  Approximately ninety percent (90%) of water is lost daily. Interestingly each plant has stomata, tiny holes, in its leaves which it opens and closes.  When these tiny holes (stomata) are open, air flows in and out and water flows out.  When the stomata are closed, however, water is trapped in the leaves.  At nights plants shut down by closing their stomata.

What about us? What is our posture when rain is up ahead? Do we anticipate it and lift our heads heavenward to absorb the refreshing shower of rain in our lives?  Do we realize that we need to absorb God’s rain everyday as we lose stuff everyday and need to replenish our stock? What’s more, have we taken the time to examine our internal process of absorption and evaporation and put our own stomata in place?

Each of us needs stomata in order to mange everyday living. We must develop strategies to navigate through life. We need to ask ourselves questions such as:  What am I taking in daily? Is it healthy and good for me or is it poisonous and damaging to my system? What will I allow to evaporate and what will remain?  Am I constantly pushing myself and not take the time to shut down so that I can better carry out my daily functions?  When is it time to shut down and what will I retain during this period?  What constitutes the air that I need to survive? 

God is encouraging us to take a “leaf” out the plants’ book.  We need to seek Him for our daily nutrients.  We need Him to teach us what to absorb, what to retain and what to let go of.  This will enable us to be more effective in extending the kingdom of God.  If we ourselves are harassed and are no different from the world why would anyone want to come to Christ? Let us go to our Wellspring (Jesus Christ) so that transformation and renewal (greener, brighter, shinier) of ourselves and our world.   After all we don’t want to be like a tree “with fading leaves, like a garden without water” (Isaiah 1: 30)

PRAYER

Father, show me how to develop stomata so that I can let your holy presence as you are the air I breathe.  I need you O wellspring to refresh, renew, transform and restore me.  If you don’t show me what to absorb I will die.  I dare not take one step without you helping me.  Come into my life Lord and rearrange me.  Show me your way Jesus.  Amen.