Growth: Do you grow where you are planted? – 20 March 2023

My primary school’s motto was “Growth”. Pretty simple right? It was very fitting because the primary school is located in a neighbourhood in Kempton Park, full of trees and the street names around the school are all names of trees. Of course, I didn’t realise this when I was at school. For me, the motto simply suited the school crest – that of a little blue tree.

I have wonderful memories of my primary school years, but I especially remember how our headmaster, at the time, spoke in the school hall about how we need to grow. I am going to be very honest – I remember him saying we need to grow and that it is important, and I am sure he said something about bend the trees while they are still young. Other than that, I can’t remember much about his speech. Either way, I’ve since remembered that it is always important to keep growing, no matter where you are.

There are different ways in which we can grow in life – personally, in your career and skills, and then also spiritually. Yet, I believe that spiritual growth often leads to further growth, also in the other aspects of our lives.

It is sometimes the case that you feel that your life is not exactly as you would like it to be. Maybe, you feel stuck in a profession or workplace that you don’t like, maybe you live in a town where you don’t want to be, maybe there is something else you are striving for, something that you think will make your life “better” or “fix” it. However, it is not always so easy to change or fix these things immediately.

Let us, therefore, try to grow spiritually despite our circumstances. Let us try to grow wherever we are planted. Let’s water our roots with God’s word. The great thing is, no matter what, the direction you’re going to grow is upwards. And who knows where it will lead you next …

Prayer: God, thank you that your word can feed my soul, no matter what my circumstances are. Help me to hold on to your word and continue to grow in my faith. Help me to grow where I am planted. Amen