Leaning Toward the Light

“I think your plant is finally growing.” My husband grinned with the declaration since he knew I’d been watching this spot in my garden for weeks now.

Although my perennial garden was filled with flowers of numerous varieties, this particular one was special to me: A transplanted cutting from a historian friend in Massachusetts, near the home of my ancestors.

After a long winter, I feared the small vine had not survived. But in late spring my patience was rewarded with small green leaves that looked unlike any other in my garden. I took a photo and sent it to my historian friend. “Is this the trumpet vine?” I asked. He assured me that it certainly looked like it was.

 

Daily, I watched its progress. I removed a nearby plant that I thought might hinder the vine’s growth. But the most amazing thing occurred when the vine began to lean toward the arbor, which is exactly where I wanted it to grow.

 

How does it know which direction to grow, I mused? It was a mere eight inches from a picket fence yet a full foot away from the arbor. Yet it pointed in a straight—seemingly determined—path toward the trellis that would allow it to grow upward and reach its full potential.

 

So what drew it toward the arbor? It was reaching toward the southern sunlight—the sustenance it needed to thrive.

 

As so often happens in my garden, God spoke spiritual lessons to me as I recalled finally leaning toward His light when I first confessed my need for Him. Leaning towards His word and wisdom, He has helped me grow, his Light ever guiding me to the arbor of His strength.

 

When Jesus spoke again to the people He said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12 NIV)