Dandelions on the wind

Taraxacum officinale:  the common dandelion. Sure, some people use the leaves for salads and the flowers to make wine - but around these parts, homeowners wage perpetual war against them. And, since everything is bigger in Texas, that includes dandelions, too!

The very thing that makes us hate them - their ability to propagate profusely by self-seeding - is actually quite a marvel. One seed head can produce up to 400 seeds, and a single plant may produce anywhere from 2,000-12,000 seeds! Each seed rides on a fluffy parachute to its new destination, scattered to the four winds, looking for a piece of earth to begin the seed cycle for itself.

The book of Acts tells us about a scattering that occurred among new believers in Jerusalem that came on the heels of the stoning of Stephen:

On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison. Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. (Acts 8:1b-4 NIV)

I doubt that those Christians felt like seeds on fluffy parachutes! No one wants to be scattered. But think of this band of exiles, taking Jesus and The Way with them! The scattering did what staying home in Jerusalem could have never done, hearkening back to the promise of Acts 1: "...and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

When we moved to Abilene almost 19 years ago, it required a big adjustment for me to get used to a college congregation in a college town. I'm a nester by nature - just give me my spot, my friends, my work, and don't make me change anything up too much. Instead, I had to learn what it was like to be in a congregation where every graduation signaled good-bye to students and faculty who had worked, lived, and loved in our church community. And, every Welcome Week in August, the process started all over again. Over the years, the wise ones among us helped me learn to treasure the gift of friendship, no matter how brief it might be, and to do my best as an ever-older member of that community to help love, nurture, and equip those young ones to go out into the world, carrying a little piece of me and of Minter Lane with them.

Yesterday, we celebrated a tradition at ACU - final chapel of the 2011-12 school year. By this time in May, most students have their required chapel credits completed, so usually that day Moody is half-filled with students who really want to be there. It is always very special. Usually the worship team is comprised of students about to graduate, and it is sweet to see the tears in their eyes as they sing "The Lord Bless You and Keep You" and hug each other. 

As I watched this from my seat, I couldn't help but think of how many students have come and go through our 19 years, and to think with joy about where they are now. Teachers, ministers, scholars, missionaries, scientists, actors, artists, moms, dads, Bible school teachers, attorneys, social workers, doctors, business owners - you name it, they are doing it, they are doing it for the Lord, and they're doing it all around the world. That excites me! They are going places I will never go, reaching people I could never reach, extending the hands and feet of Christ to a hurting world. What a privilege to be part of that, even if only for a moment!

So, whether you're in the class of 2012 or just in a time of scattering for you, hold on tight to that parachute and ride on God's wind to your next destination. The Lord himself goes before you, the Christ community here stands with you, and His purposes lie ahead of you. I can't wait to see how the fruit of your life will be borne on the wind for years to come!