Carefully I prepared a bed in my hot house for a few pumpkin seeds. I dug in plenty of manure and at the appropriate time I planted the seeds. I also prepared another area for tomatoes. Something went wrong. The pumpkin and tomato seedlings arrived on time and in staggering numbers, but not according to plan

There were pumpkins and tomatoes throughout the vegetable garden that I had composted in the Autumn. The compost heap sprang into life with pumpkins trailing over the fence and down the path, and there were tomatoes everywhere, but none in the hot house.

I should have rejoiced and given thanks for the hot house that otherwise had done a good job, but not a bit of it. Usually I am a tidy man and I like my vegetables in neat rows appropriately labelled. I had no intention of sticking labels all over the garden and the compost heap. Furthermore, I had no idea what names to give these intruders. Something went wrong, so I put the blame on the hot house and compost heap, rather unfairly I think.

The story of the wayward vegetables reminds me of a familiar Bible text, “By their fruits you shall know them.” This tells us that by this criterion, people and things are to be judged. The Scriptures also tell us that the pure in heart, the merciful, the peace makers, are blessed. We know in our heart of hearts that these are the best people. Christianity is a way of life we should all aspire to and practice.

The fact that my vegetable seedlings hatched out in strange places rather than in the hot house really doesn’t matter. As it so happens the pumpkins and tomatoes did well wherever they chose to grow, so I should not judge the hot house or compost heap harshly. If we liken the hot house to church and the garden to the world outside, does it really matter where all the good things happen? We should measure people by what they do rather than where they are.

Pastor Ron w4w@keypoint.com.au