The Gardener and His Wife

The Gardener and His Wife

Carol Condon

www.carolcondon.com

I noticed the folded paper towel pressed toward the back of our countertop. Being an inquisitive young girl, I opened it and saw little seeds stuck in each fold. Thankfully I didn’t just pitch it. I asked my Mom what they were and she informed me that one day they would be tomatoes.

In our gardener’s opinion it wasn’t as simple as just buying a seed, pushing it through the dirt, and waiting to see if it would sprout. My dad had a plan that was in effect year around. He grew the most amazing tomatoes that I have ever tasted. He took seeds from them, dried them out, placed them in little jars to sprout, planted them under fluorescent lighting throughout the winter, and transplanted them into tiny cups of special soil. Finally, when the plants seemed strong enough, it was spring and time to go into the ground.

My mom was side by side my dad throughout this whole process. The gardener, my dad, then cut carpet strips to go between the rows of these precious plants. He said the carpet helped with the weeds and his knees as he knelt to work around each plant. He built his own wire cages that would assist the plant as it grew to an unbelievable height. As my dad went to work, I would look out the window and there was my mom, the gardener’s wife, down on her knees pulling weeds, checking for insect damage, and looking for ripe tomatoes to bring to the table.

As I loaded a box of about 750 door hangers into my car last night, I thought of my sweet parents, “the gardener and his wife”, and realized that I have become a “gardener’s wife”, the wife of a church planter.

Mark told me in April of 2013 that he had finally apologized to the Lord for not acting on the call that he had been battling with for approximately 10 years. I knew what this meant. Because of the price that this would cost, I went into denial. I had a perfect little comfort zone. My husband was employed as a full time worship pastor of a great church. Our children were all involved in different areas of the church. My parents and siblings have always lived far from me so this church had become my family and I knew I would have to walk away. Finally, I, too, apologized to the Lord as I embraced this calling.

Like my dad, we began to collect “seeds” and prepare them for planting. Thankfully, it was not just the “gardener and his wife”, but 5 great children along with a fabulous team gathered and began planting along side of us. After many months of preparing the seeds, soil, and the garden plot for Infinite Church, we are ready. God has blessed us with an “upper room” in a “store front” at Creekside in Gahanna, Ohio. This coming Sunday, August 17, 2014, at 10:00am we will have the Official Launch of Infinite Church. There are many of you who will not be able to be with us on this momentous day, but we so need your prayers and the support of those of you who are able to give at www.ininitechurch.org.

The Great Commission has now entered a new city and we do not take it lightly.

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

Matthew 28:19

She Lost Her Way

She Lost Her Way

Carol Condon

www.carolcondon.com

It began just like any normal Monday; however, it ended unlike any normal Monday. Chase and I left for his weekly piano lesson. The parking lot was nearly empty as we waited for his instructor to arrive.

I suddenly felt myself being watched. As I turned my head, there was an elderly lady pressed into my window. I asked her if I could help.  She just shrugged her shoulders and said she was looking for her husband. I explained that I had not seen anyone but I would keep my eyes open.

The elderly hold a special place in my heart. I do not like to see them eat alone, walk alone, look lonely, and I especially do not like it when they look sad.  This little lady exemplified most of these traits. She was holding a little shopping bag and a jacket. I asked if her husband was in poor health, and if we should alert the authorities. She said, “no” that he had just "left home" and didn't want to be found.

I began to suspect that maybe she was suffering from poor health and decided to keep an eye on her. Then, she fell. I called 911. She pulled herself up and continued walking. I was afraid I would startle her by putting her in my van so I just kept my distance and followed her.

She reached a building and two men got out of their cars so I hurried to her side. By this time it was easy to see she had lost her way. I told the gentlemen that I did not know her but I would stay with her until we could return her home.

As we questioned her, her eyes became more and more vacant. She said she didn’t know her name, where she lived, or any phone numbers. She looked over and told me that she had brought her most important possessions. She pulled out a rusty mirror, a checkbook that happened to be empty, a folder with 3 pictures, and a greeting card.  My heart broke. She finally looked at me, put her head into her hands, and said, “I just don’t remember.” I assured her that it would be ok and we would help her find her way.

With all of us working together asking questions, along with the items in the bag, the authorities were able to gather enough information to locate her address.  She indeed was lost.  She had left that morning and had walked for miles until she ended up at my van. I will never forget her eyes or watching her walk in circles searching for someone but remembering no one.

I began to look with new eyes at all the people walking around “lost”.  Was there anyone helping them? Will someone turn them from walking in circles to walking in His way?  Are we too busy with our own life and our own walk that we don’t recognize the lost?

“…in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

Philippians 2:3,4 NIV

Lessons Learned

Lessons Learned

Carol Condon

www.carolcondon.com

Going to school and being taught the required academic “lessons” is not an optional choice in our country.  However, in many cases the lessons taught at home have been. I was blessed and privileged to grow up in a home where lessons taught were not an option. In addition, learning the lessons was not an option either.

Today on what would have been my Dad’s 92^nd birthday I dedicate my “Lessons Learned” to his memory.

My parents were amazing. There were so many lessons taught in our home. Love was one of those. My parents loved each other so much. Their love for the six of us siblings, although very different in personality, was given unconditionally. Then came the lesson of respect. That was an easy one. However, it was a lesson that was not optional. In my 22 years of living under their roof I never remember hearing my Mom or my Dad disrespect each other by having shouting matches laced with sarcasm and name calling and they provided the same level of respect to each of us.  

Obedience was expected at all times and not just when comfortable to do so.  “Why?” was a question that was not welcomed nor often answered. Faithful church attendance and giving coupled with a Godly lifestyle were taught by example 24 hours a day. We were taught true patriotism and that it was a privilege to live in America, the land in which my dad nearly lost his life defending. Giving was a natural thing to do in both finances and in acts of service. The “supper table” was a very special place that we all met at each night and shared our day not our complaints.  I never remember a day that my dad just took off work for the sake of having a day off. A lesson we all learned was proper work ethics.

Probably one of the harder lessons for me to learn was Dad’s definition of being on time. On time for him was 30 minutes early and late was 29 minutes early.  See what I mean? I guess that was one lesson I never quite mastered and it never ceased to frustrate him. Dad never taught us to sing or to clap our hands. Rhythm and pitch were never one of his strong points. However, he did teach us to worship!

The last lesson I learned from Dad was just a couple weeks before he passed away.  He looked over at me and asked if I knew that you could witness to others without ever saying a word. He then went on to share a story that proved that very “lesson” as a truth.

Now that I have lived 5 years without him I ache at no longer being able to sit with him and learn the many lessons that he still had within him to teach. However, I am doing my best to follow his lead and pass my “Lessons Learned” down to my children.

Happy Birthday, Dad. You are still changing lives as we make the choice to live “your” lessons learned.

Bullying Hurts

Bullying Hurts

Carol Condon

carolcondon5@aol.com

The young student was trying to fit in but that was not going so well. His mom and dad were great people but lived very busy lives. He took their busyness as a failure to fit into their schedule and even wondered if he was wanted or just a responsibility. Were they committed to him or did they truly love and want him? He just couldn’t be sure.

His time in school was even worse. He did not have enough self-esteem to even try to fit in. Most of his time was spent dodging the hurtful remarks that were hurled in his direction when the “in” students were present. His daydreams were filled with hopeful days of when he finally fit in.  Would those days ever come? He had been called more names than he could count. The “accidental” occasions where he was tripped and shoved added to his already painful existence.

When I heard his story I wanted a chance to go to his parents and paint them a picture of what their actions or even their lack of actions looked like. I wanted to go into his school and grab all the students who spent their free time bullying those who didn’t fit into the acceptable mold and teach them a much-needed lesson.

Bullying hurts and can ultimately change someone forever. Bullying occurs when a person uses strength or power to harm or intimidate those who are weaker. By definition this means that weak and defenseless students are not the only victims. Our homes, places of employment, and sadly our churches have their own set of bullies. Those holding the authority over others have the opportunity to intimidate those in a weaker position and this hurts. However, what if intimidation was put away and was replaced by humility and patience? I am pretty sure this would be found pleasing in His sight.

Ephesians 4:2 NLT

Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.

The Silenced Flame

The Silenced Flame
Carol Condon
carolcondon5@aol.com

Our calendar was looking like a doodle pad.  Each day was scheduled and some days were over scheduled.  It would have been nice to have had a "holiday administrator" who would have handed out a detailed schedule each morning.  However, since we didn't have one, most days resulted in chaos, but even chaos when it includes family is fun.

One thing that I was looking forward to was the Christmas Party at our home.  There were tasks that needed done in order to make the evening a success. These tasks included everything from grocery store runs and house cleaning to cooking and giving the dog a bath. Once these were completed and we had made a fire in the fire place and lit the candles we were ready for our guests.

It was such a special night.  The stories, laughter and singing made the work of the day so worth it.  Once everyone had left I began picking up the remnants of the party. I had turned off most of the lights leaving the fireplace and candles lit bringing a soft glow to the room as I reminisced of our successful evening.  As I finished cleaning the last dish I went to blow out the candles.  I simply placed a lid on each one.  I watched as the flame gradually dimmed until it no longer flickered. The realization hit me that the flame was silenced until someone took the time to light again.

I began to think of all the people God had trusted to my leadership.  Did I ever try to smother their flame?  Were they full of ideas that were uncomfortable for me or a little too far out of my comfort zone resulting in me placing a lid on them? Just as a candle will sit and never shine until someone reaches out to light it so will those who have had their flame silenced. What if we began looking for the people who are bent over with the heaviness of life, unfulfilled dreams, hurts of the past, hurts of the present, or the over zealous spirit that has been squashed and we lifted them up with a kind word or deed allowing them to shine again? Do they have the strength within themselves to get back up or are they waiting for you or me?

"Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad."
Proverbs 12:25 KJV

The Wish List

The Wish List
Carol Condon
www.carolcondon.com


The smooth covers were creased, worn, and in some places even torn.  Markers of many colors left bold circles throughout the catalog with an initial added claiming each "wish circle" as their own.  As the mail carrier arrived each day during the Christmas season the kids eagerly waited to search through the wonderland of every toy company's advertisement of their weekly specials.

As parents we have all been guilty of reminding our children that they better be good. Christmas is just around the corner. We have even whispered, "You better watch out you, you better not cry, you better not pout……"  They quickly sober and go back to scouring the pictures of treasures that are only a store away.  The wish list has grown to quite the length by shopping day.  Even "things" containing heart beats have been added.  To the shock and amazement of parents there nestled among the toy train and dolly set the shocking wishes of a new puppy and baby sister.

Reminders have been given to children all over the world.  They go something like this, "Honey, you know we can't get you everything you wish for." "Mommy and Daddy do not own the bank." We have even handed them a blank piece of paper and told them, "Here, you need to start your wish list all over and be a little more reasonable."

As Christians we have the "Catalog" of all catalogs.  It arrived many, many years ago and the price is still current but has already been paid.  In the pages lay so many items just waiting to be circled, initialed and added to the "wish list."

There are so many sections.  You need comfort? Psalm 55:22 "Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved."
You need strength? Isaiah 40:29 "He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength."
Has grief overtaken you? Isaiah 25:8 "He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces."
Do you struggle with fear? How about this "item" Isaiah 41:13 For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee."
Are your cupboards bare? No worries, Matthew 6:31,32 "Therefore take no thought saying, What shall we eat? or What shall we drink: or Wherewithal shall we be clothed? For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things." Do you feel lost? Easy directions, Proverbs 3:6 "In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."
Need salvation Acts 2:39 " For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call."
Need joy?  He has that in stock! Psalm 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life; in thy presence is fulness of joy; at they right hand there are pleasure for evermore."  Are you lonely?  He is there for you. Isaiah 58:9 "Then shalt thou call, and he shall say, Here I am."

Why do we live without when He has a full inventory that is paid for and just waiting to be picked up? Take out your marker today and begin circling His promises.  Make your wish list.  I promise you that He won't be out of stock.  There is nothing too expensive and He will never throw your wishes away and tell you to start over.  He won't even make you wait until December 25 to open them!