In Luke 13:1-9, Jesus tells the story of the barren fig tree. While the vineyard owner wants to cut it down, the gardener wants to give it more time to produce fruit.
 
How often do we grow impatient with ourselves and others when we are unproductive? How frequently do we want to act in haste to cut down progress, rather than give a little more time, a little more attention, a little more TLC?
 
Hannah Garrity writes this about her artwork:
 
“Give the fig tree one more year to fruit. Things that are worth working for do not yield immediate results. Difficult work does not reap quick rewards; yet, it is worthy. So, I keep going. I search for the sign of a bud on the limbs.
 
“In this image the fig leaves are full, but the buds are tiny. As in the parable, the fruit of this tree eludes the viewer. However, the buds are visible as a token in this painting. They are encouragement that it is worth the effort to care for the tree, encouragement that we should give it the grace of one more year.”

This Sunday,  Cultivate Promise and Let Go of Procrastination.

Jesus’ message, throughout his earthly ministry, was one of sanctuary and inclusion. In Luke’s scripture, Jesus indicates he wants to shelter everyone from harm; he wants to spread his wings like a mother hen and protect the baby chicks. But instead he experienced rejection by the very ones he desired most to include. Lauren Wright Pittman writes about her artwork of the mother hen: “the chicks are unwilling to be protected. In Jesus’ attempt to love the world he meets unwillingness, distrust, mockery, and violence."
This Sunday, let us learn to Cultivate Sanctuary and Let Go of Rejection.
Based on Psalm 27 and Luke 13:31-35.