Learning to Look

John 4:35 Do you not say, ‘Four months more, then comes the harvest’? But I tell you, look around you, and see how the fields are ripe for harvesting. Humans see what we expect to see. If we expect to see a friendly face then we will smile at those we encounter. And most likely, the people we pass will return our smile. If we expect a threat then we will become guarded to protect ourselves. Others will feel threatened and return our guarded glare. We reap what we sow. The harvest is there, and it is what we make of it. For what is a weed, but a plant we have decided does not belong? Who are we to decide that plant’s purpose? We think we know what will grow in the fields of our life. We look for the apple to turn red and for the heads of wheat to start to bow. But what if it is a pear tree? What if the field was sown with soy? Then we will not see the harvest because we are not seeing all that God shares with us. If we think we cannot reap the harvest of God spreading the word and doing the work of our Lord then the work will not be done- by us. If we think there is nothing to harvest, we will remain in a world of scarcity wondering when the harvest will come. If we open our eyes to what has been shared with us then we will see the bounty of creation is all around us. We will either guard our treasure in fear, or we will sow seeds and live in abundance all the days of our life. It is there for us to see and do what we will with it. When we spend our time nurturing, all that is around us grows and shares abundance and love with us and those around us. When we sit and wait, we wait. Do not sleep through the banquet. Go, look, grow, reap, and love. We may not know or recognize what is growing in the fields all around us, but if we enter the fields and do the work, we will learn what is there and how to nurture it. Go, harvest and share the abundance that is all around us every moment of every day. That is all that has been asked of you. Let us pray, Lord, open our eyes to what is in the fields before us. Teach us to nurture. Open our hearts to share. As you share the living water with us, may we share the overflowing abundance with all we encounter each day, Amen. This devotion was written by Jill Pope and read by Susan Daves, Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life. If you would like to respond to these devotionals in any way, we would enjoy hearing from you. Our email address is: podcasts@1stchurch.org. First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.