The Art of Growing plants is still somewhat of a mystery to me. My balcony garden has a variety of blooming colors, succulents, creepers, herbs, and ivy. Yet, I am still learning how best to care for their needs in this dry, hot Mediterranean climate.

One thing I have observed is how remarkable growth and expansion can occur when a spider ivy is transplanted to a deeper bed of soil. Two identical looking sisters of spider ivy, though nurtured in the same environment of sunshine, water, and fertilizer, quickly become quite divergent in appearance and fertility when one is moved into a broader, deeper base to sink her roots into.

The expansive growth is not limited to increased overall height of the plant, for now her prolific leaves are much wider as well as brilliantly striped in color and vibrancy. Her spider ivy offspring shoots also produce more flowers and her leaf-root clusters are larger and are prominently striped in color compared to those of the sister plant. If is fair to conclude that the spider ivy that is rooted and grounded deeply is expansively a much more thriving plant, and it is clear she produces stronger offspring than the spider ivy that remains in moderate depth soil where it cannot push its roots down any further.

This metaphor for life in Christ Jesus is poignant to me. When we continue rooted in Him and deriving sustenance from His Word, we will continue to stay green and even to produce shoots of growth in others. However, our personal growth and that of others we inspire and nurture will no doubt tableau at some point if we are content with a ‘thus far and no more’ reach into His Word and into His heart of love. It is only when we determine that we must go broader and deeper that our spiritual life truly thrives, expands, and produces stronger life force in those we mentor. Then all around us can see the vibrancy, fullness, and dimensions of color that the Lord Jesus meant to be gloriously displayed in us and our progeny.

My prayer for you and for me joins that prayer of the Apostle Paul:

“I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
Ephesians 3:16-19 NIV Bible