We Are Corn, Beans and Squash.
I’m reading a book that my friend sent me, called, “Grace From the Garden.”
One of the chapters talks about how the native Americans planted corn, beans and squash together for this reason: “The corn stalks grew tall and strong, which gave the beans a place to climb. The beans provided nitrogen for the corn, and the squash plants spread out at the base of the corn and beans conserving moisture, and shading the ground from weeds, so that all three plants could draw nutrients they needed from the soil.”
At church Sunday, the subject was about personal ministry, and giving what little you have to give, and trusting God with the results. He talked about all of us being the “body,” and how we each need each other. I thought of corn, beans and squash. I thought about how beautiful that metaphor is, in terms of people- if it’s possible.
I think that if people are committed to one another, and care about each other, then naturally they help each other “grow.” I think that it’s most possible to see this interaction in families, and in church groups, where people tend to love one another and be committed to each other. Another key element that I feel is necessary, is the acceptance of peoples’ uniqueness. Just as the corn beans and squash are uniquely able to serve each other.
*What do you think? Have you seen a group of people or a family that really interacted in this way?
February 2nd, 2009 at 6:58 pm
I like that analogy. I can’t think of a group or family that operates that way though. I wish I could see what that looks like in action. I know it’s what I would love to see in my own life. I hope God plants me soon!
February 2nd, 2009 at 8:53 pm
Wow. All of us together as the body. It is never an individual effort that gets us where we need to go. It may seem that way, but somewhere along our journey we have picked up tidbits of information and stored it for later use. It’s all that information(like the nutrients in the soil) that makes us who we are. We can take, but we must also give back. Life is constantly about paying it forward.
I saw wonderful things happen last fall with the MM tour. I now have at least a couple of dozen people I connect with because we met in a chat room while MM was streaming live across the universe! 4 of us are planning a trip to Dallas to see the R&WRS April 3rd. We’ve never met. One from Little Rock, one from New Braunfels, Tx, one already in the Dallas area, and me from Amarillo, Tx. Different ages, differents stages of life. Brought together by God, with a little help from Skorinc’s great adventure! How’s that for planting seeds?
February 3rd, 2009 at 12:24 am
I love that analogy…it’s so true; we all have our jobs and we all play our part in His body and it all comes together that we help one another do their job simply by being ourselves and doing ours.
February 5th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
i have been part of a church body that functioned that way…for a good long while. then, it stopped working as leadership and congregants began to disagree. i treasure the time we had and have never found a home like it since.