I know you may think this is strange, but track with me for a minute. Since the beginning of January, we've been having trouble with our copier here at church. By trouble, I mean it's decided it hates us and our church administrator Matt is on a first-name how-are-your-kids basis with everyone at Service Plus because he calls them so often. In fact, yesterday I even wrote him a limerick about his copier troubles to make him feel better.
There is a light at the end of the tunnel, though. Either Service Plus will this week be able to fix the copier with a new part, and all will be well and good again -- or they will say, we've done all we can. It's time for a new copier. (The reason that's a light is because it will mean the end of calling Service Plus once a day, not that it's great that we might have to buy a new copier!)
Now, for a story about carrots. As most of you know, I've been volunteering at a community garden for about six months now. Right before last semester ended, we planted some seeds, including carrot seeds. Last week we were able to pick and eat some of the carrots right out of the garden. The kids love it when they get to eat food from the garden, especially carrots, and I'm not going to lie, I love it too!
I know what you're thinking. "That's nice, Mary, but what on earth does that have to do with covenants?" Well, let me tell you. The old covenant was something that was necessary, but something that we couldn't do on our own. In a similar way, it was necessary for Matt to call Service Plus constantly, but he couldn't fix the copier on his own. It was also necessary for us to plant seeds in the garden, but we couldn't make them grow.
The new covenant is something that was necessary but that we didn't have to do on our own. Jesus fulfilled the old covenant and gave us a new one. He gave us a light at the end of the tunnel -- something to look forward to, something to hope for. In a similar way, Service Plus will come and either fulfill what we can't do (fix our copier) or give us something to hope for (a new copier in the future). Also, the sunlight, water, and soil fulfilled what we couldn't do (make the seeds grow) and gave us something to look forward to and enjoy (delicious carrots).
These are silly analogies, and obviously not perfect. But I think they work for our purposes. As Lent goes on, I'm trying to find Jesus connections in everything, because he is our AND, and he is everywhere. I hope I can plant some seeds (pun intended) in your minds so you will think about Jesus more this season, too. (If you can think of a pun about copiers I could have put in that sentence, please let me know, as I'm at a loss.)
In the meantime, enjoy this picture of me and my friend Megan. We are proud of our carrots.
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