A group of neighbours in Toronto has come up with a unique way to deal with a frustrating problem. The problem is a pothole just off Avenue Road, a major street running through the city. It started as a small crater but developed into more of a sinkhole expanding almost halfway across the street. The city has been slow to respond. So, in an unusual protest, the neighbours turned the hole into a garden.
Right now it’s producing some amazing summer tomatoes from one of the many plants growing in the hole. People found a way to deal with their situation while waiting for things to change. It’s attracted a fair amount of attention and the city has finally taken note. Authorities have started to move the plants to a nearby community garden so that repairs to the road can begin. Soon the street will be returned to its intended purpose.
While it’s not in the Bible, the expression “Bloom where you’re planted” can at times sound biblical. It means we need to learn to be content and fruitful wherever we find ourselves. Rather than making lemonade out of their situation, the Torontonians grew tomatoes.
Sometimes we find ourselves planted in a place or situation where we would rather not be. It becomes a test of our character and faithfulness. We have no idea how long it will last or what the outcome might be. In the midst of those challenges, we decide to serve God and others – to live life as best we can with God’s help.
Jesus said, “You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit.” (John 15:16) Then he tells us we can go to the Father in prayer with our needs. It’s easy to get focused on what we lack and complain about our situation. If we believe that Jesus has chosen and appointed us, then we need to work at producing the fruit of a Christian life.
We can’t always control the situation we find ourselves in. We can ask for God’s help to be fruitful even as we wait for a change in the circumstances. If we expect perfect conditions, we may miss out on a lot of the good things in life.