How many apples are in a seed?


Here’s a summary of our discussion on our volunteer service project. In any discussion, it’s useful to run through a few key questions: Who? What? Where? When? How? Why? So what?

WHO? Care Corner. Likely 50-70 underprivileged primary school age kids. On our own end, currently nine of us have specifically indicated interest. I understand Care Corner's own volunteers will also be involved. We continue to extend this to any of you who have yet to specifically inform me. We will also extend this to our other colleagues once we have finalized the details.

WHERE? Probably the zoo, science centre or some other paying venue. I would like to try to avoid a "free" activity. Since these are under-privileged kids, we should try to do something they would ordinarily not have the opportunity to do. We will try to negotiate a discounted rate.
WHAT? Besides a general tour of whatever location we choose, we need to organise food, transport and possibly some entertainment. Scavenger hunt? Skit? Clown? Magic show? DIY or engage professional? Message – individual/group? We need to discuss this further, to tie in the "What" with our "Why".

WHEN? Probably last weekend of September 2007, just before Children’s Day. 29 September 2007 is the last Saturday of the month, so mark that date down NOW. We can make it a Children’s Day theme. Earlier is difficult because (a) I will be out of the country in late Aug/early Sep and more importantly (b) we haven’t figured out what we’re doing yet. Later is difficult because then exams are coming up. We’ll aim for a ½ to ¾ day program.

HOW? We will need to assign duties – OIC, transport, liaison with Care Corner, food, entertainment, message etc. We need to discuss this further.

WHY? Three principal reasons: (a) bless the children unconditionally with our love, time, effort and most importantly, the message! (b) model for our colleagues Christian love (c) get to know the other people in our prayer group as a bonding exercise.

SO WHAT? Now that you know the Who, What, Where, When, How and Why – SO WHAT? Commit in our hearts now – we will put in the necessary time and effort to get this done. Reserve the time. Make this a priority.

There’s a common illustration that’s used by a number of self-help gurus, including Stephen Covey. It’s called Put the Big Rocks In First. In a given container, if you put all the little pebbles in first, you’ll find that you can't fit in the big rocks later. But if you put in the big rocks first, then you’ll find that when you pour in the little pebbles, they will fall into place and shape themselves around the big rocks and everything fits.

I have always thought that this illustration is slightly over-optimistic. It omits to explain that sometimes, it’s not possible to put in every single pebble, or even every single big rock. If that’s the case, some of those pebbles or even big rocks have got to go.

What are the big rocks in your life? Should they be big rocks? Put in the ones that should count and let the pebbles come after.

Now, one could argue that our prayer group or this Care Corner project is not such a big thing, and doesn’t deserve to be a big rock. But a wise man once said:

"Any fool can count the seeds in an apple. But only God can count the apples in a seed."

Each of us, as an "apple", has a finite number of seeds – perhaps a few for this or that project at work, one for helping our kids with their homework, one for a particularly close friend. Those of us who are bigger apples may have more seeds. But each of us has a finite number of seeds in our own little lives.

An apple is the end product - it has completed its growth cycle and will soon shrivel, with its finite number of seeds. But a seed - there's potential there! The question is, are you content to be an apple or eager to grow and multiply the seeds we have? If the latter, how many apples are there in you? How many apples do you think can sprout from your blessing to the children and to our colleagues? How many apples do you think can grow when, by your example and participation, you spur fellow believers on toward love and good deeds (Heb 10:24)?

Friends - STEP OUT. By your words and actions, be God's messenger to those around you, Christians and non-Christians alike. Otherwise, why on earth are you here? If you think you're small or unimportant, remember God's word - "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel*: 'Not by might not by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty... Who despises the day of small things? Men will rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubabbel* [*substitute your name here]." Zechariah 4:6,10

"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" Mark 10:45 and "unless a kernel of wheat falls on the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds." John 12:24.

Look how many apples Jesus produced out of his humility and commitment! Let’s model our response on that.

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