From: rodhugen
Date: Mon Dec  3 17:40:35 EST 2012
Subject: Fruit and gratitude

It is early in December and the oranges, grapefruit, and lemons on the trees in our backyard are in the throes of ripening. The once dark green skins of the lemons are now mostly yellow although many are still splotched with lashes of a softer green. The oranges are trailing behind in the race to change color, but seem determined to catch up. The once bright leaves of the grapefruit tree are curling up and look to be dying as they continue to sacrifice themselves in order to send all the nutrients and water to the massive pinkish yellow fruit hanging on the branches. Branches that are bending low from the added weight they must bear. Already we have picked a few wonderfully sour lemons to brighten the guacamole or splash across the grilled salmon and we look forward to the harvest that awaits. I can remember back when the trees were full of flowering buds, so susceptible to a frost or a driving wind. But they survived and thrived and now they are becoming beautiful fruit. A dozen years ago when Eric and I started to gather folks together to form the Village we could hardly imagine a fruit tree let alone bags of beautiful fruit. We decided in those early days to work together and to love each other and to be loyal to the mission God was calling us to and we were hoping against hope to see lives change and see people come to know Jesus like we do and to be able to watch folks burrow deep into the goodness of God, becoming disciples of Jesus. We doubted that we had what was needed and we doubted that we would ever be able to gather anyone into a church community living out the gospel. But we dreamed... Last night was a beautiful night for me as I looked out at the Village. I saw the fruit of what God has been doing in and around Eric and me. People in every stage of following Jesus were seated in a building God gave us. People were praying and singing and listening and weeping and laughing and feasting together. It was the richest of times. As hands were laid on Eric and he was ordained as a Commissioned Pastor in the Christian Reformed Church I was so deeply moved at what God has done in our lives. Today I've been kind of relaxing and goofing off and I find myself thanking God over and over throughout the day. I am so thankful for beautiful fruit that only he can create. I can't help myself, gratitude just comes bubbling out... Rod

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