Recently, one of my heroes died - Wangari Maathai. In 2004, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. She wasn't a head-of-state or a diplomat or a military person. She was a biologist. She wasn't an old western world white man. She was a young African woman. She didn't end wars or protest corrupt governments. She planted trees!
Amazing: to connect peacemaking with planting trees. And yet, her Green Belt Movement has probably created more peace that anyone can ever imagine. In Kenya (and now throughout the world), planting trees is saving the planet, saving water, saving agriculture, empowering poor people - especially women..... And, all of the problems these trees solve are often the sources of war. What also inspires me about Dr. Maathai is that she planted trees (millions of them) and died before ever seeing them grow to full maturity. She staked her whole life on a future she would never see.
So it was with many of the Hebrews on the journey to the Promised Land. They moved through the desert, organized themselves and birthed future generations believing that God's promises were sure and that there would be a land and a new life ahead. They did so knowing that most of the people who started the journey would never actually inhabit this promised land. Like Dr. Maathai, they planted trees: trees of community, hope and faith. They planted the trees of life that would sustain their people into the future.
So it is with the church - with our church. We are in the business of planting trees. Every time we nurture a child through Children's Worship and loving relationships; every time we support bringing clean water to a desperate community or when we work to help our whole community feed starving children.... in fact, whenever we do pretty much anything around here..... we are planting trees of community, life, hope and peace that we may never see.
All it takes is a bit of faith - in God, in each other, in all that is good and right in the world. Sooo, go ahead and plant a tree. Invest in the future of FCC, of children here and abroad, in the promises of peace. You'll feel good and you will make a real difference.
Come on Sunday as we celebrate the Promised Land into which we are moving. Come, bring your pledges, your cans, your hearts, your hopes for the future. And, I look forward to greeting you all.
Blessings, Laura Lee
Texts for This Week:
Note: The texts in bold type will be read in the worship service and the one with an asterisk will be used as the focus for the proclamation of the word.
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