Growing

Yesterday, one of the writers I follow on Substack,

Laura Musselman

,posted a reflection called “And then it clicked...” about “aha” moments.  I hadn’t seen it before I was out hiking with Scout in the morning but I realized that I had such a moment along the path.  It was when I saw this.

(Photo has been edited to emphasize the yellow blooms)

As we were walking, I had a “wow” moment when I saw this progression of plants.  The small one on the far left and then how they slowly grew in height and in breadth (with the random one in between 1 and 2).   When I photographed this, it was a “this caught my heart” moment.  But after reading Laura’s post, it was an “aha” moment.  To me, this is about how I have experienced growth.  Yes there is the my literal growth in height and weight over the years (and reduction in amount of hair), but growth is so much more than that.

I was in a conversation the other day where I shared that I feel more secure and solid in my faith today than I ever have but, at the same time, I hold many more questions, ideas, doubts, and wonderings.  I resonate with the experience that with each insight and discovery comes another question and another thing to explore.  (Yes, for you enneagram people, I am absolutely one whose rooting is at 5, the observer/investigator).

I get frustrated right now when it feels like what is being focused upon is about narrowing people into a specific worldview rather than opening them up to the breadth of what is in and around us.  I feel like where I have grown is to wider, bigger, more expansive ideas and I believe that is how we were created to be.  Not narrowing but growing.  The breadth of the world is staggering and wonderful and there’s always more.  I love how Psalm 139 speaks of knowledge that is too lofty and too high for one to even conceive of.  But that doesn’t mean to stop seeking it.