No Seeds, No Harvest

Originally Written on Wed Jul 8, 2009

Good morning family. I hope that you all are doing well on this fine Hump Day!

 ...[Edit:  The scripture that I originally used for this post was not used in the correct context.  As such, it has been deleted, but for the readers information, it was Matthew 13:24-30]...

If you don't know (or do know), this year was the first year that we, The Halls, have started gardening. I had been talking about doing it for years and had never done it. This year, we finally got the gears in motion, to get it done. For me, it has become a pet project because the gardening aspect is almost soothing and relaxing in a way. However, this morning as I leaned against the glass door and looked at it, the Holy Spirit spoke something else to me that never crossed my mind. In short. If you never plant a seed, you can never expect a harvest. This pertains to the garden, but it is a lot larger than the garden. It applies to all aspects of our lives.

All Talk, No Action

If you recall, I said I had been talking about gardening for years but that's it. We all can talk a good game and we all have lots of great intentions in our lives, but if all we do is talk then we have done nothing but blown hot air. I hate to say that about myself but if the shoe fits.....As long as we continue to talk about the things we would like to do, or desire, or enjoy it'll be just that...talk only. In order to get going, we must first get started and sometimes [we'll do many forms of self-sabotage to] convince [ourselves] why [we] shouldn't get started.

Planting the Seed

Well if we've gotten past the lip action, we've started to sow seed. We've at least gotten started which is a step past where we were. In life we often have lofty goals, but majority of the time, we never get started. If we can plant the seed then we can at least step back and feel some sort of progress has been made.

Cultivation

I think we all wish everything was as easy as an infomercial -- "Set it and forget it" -- but we know life is hardly ever that easy. This is just the same with the garden. If we just tossed seeds out and never did anything else to them, chances are we probably will not be able to reap a harvest. While going through the growing process, any seeds we plant have to be nurtured. Weeds will try to creep into your garden. Birds will try to eat your seed. Some seeds just will not grow because they are duds, however, this is out of your control. A lot of the times it will be a constant battle and some you will lose but some you will win. What is important is that you are caring for your crop. The more you do, the more you learn, and the better you are equipped to care for your garden. For example, I had no idea that tomatoes and egg plant can carry a disease that be harmful to other fruit such as strawberries if sown in the same soil. Chances are that if we had never started gardening I would not know this nice little tid bit.

Reaping Your Harvest

We are in the sit and wait phase on most of our crop (while cultivating of course), but we've been eating strawberries for about 2 months now! The other items are still growing, but it's been a good learning curve and nurturing going on. Every day there may be a different thing to do, but thanks to sowing the initial seeds, we have an expectation that a harvest will come. In due time, we will be eating out of the majority of the vegetables from our garden.

Now what does this have to do with anything you may ask? Try replacing the seeds you plant into the ground with the seeds of your life. Is there something you've always wanted to do but have never done it? Well the seeds are in you, you just have to plant them to get started. If you never get started on anything you wanted to do in life, you will never be able to look back at the starting line or see the finish line. There will be obstacles to hender your progress, but you have to keep pressing on until the growing cycle is finished. For me, I am now in an "Expectation" mode because I have planted first and now I see the finish line in sight. However, if I never got started, I would never have this expectation that there will be a harvest. Getting past the starting point can be a big hurdle because of life's circumstances and/or just plain excuses, but the key is to start. If you start, your expectations may drive you to a harvest time.

Be blessed folks and have a good one.

Regards,

Antoine E. Hall

"It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect." - 2 Samuel 22:33

* Seed Image Courtesy of WikiMedia Commons

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Can't Is Not An Option

In my household, our daughter knows that the words "can't" or "cannot" are not options for use.  Now, we are teaching our younger son the same concept. It dawned on me that my wife and I are in such the habit of correcting it, that we do not realize when we do it.  This is actually a good thing!

This morning while on the way to dropping the kids off at school, I told my son that he should to learn how to whistle, so we all can whistle together.  His next statement was, "I can't."  Immediately, I found myself correcting him.  I am a stickler about this subject because many people will quickly say that they "cannot".  Unless there is some sort of disability affecting that person, most people can do just about anything if they put forth the effort.  It may take them a little longer to learn due to the individual, but they can get there.

So, adults, I encourage you as well to stop saying that you cannot do certain things.  Instead change your statement to "I do not know how" to do _________.  By saying this, you give yourself room to learn and and grow.

Be Blessed.

Antoine E. Hall

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What's Holding You Back?

Image Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Since I have been going through physical therapy to get motion back into my toe, I have learned a few things.  The first thing I learned was that sometimes pain is necessary as a part of progress (see my post on pain).  Well, this week, I started doing more activities at my appointments that involve jumping, lunging, and other agility exercises.  This leads me to the next issue that I have learned to handle and that is overcoming obstacles.

Some of the most difficult things that we deal with in life are obstacles.  You know, things that get in the way of progress.  Sometimes they are physical barriers that block us from moving forward and then there are times where they are mental blockers.  In my case, my obstacle was both mental and physical.  See, once I had surgery, I was limited with my motion because of my physical condition.  In my brain, I became use to my condition and mentally trained myself to protect my foot and to not do anything to cause harm or re-injure it.  I mean that makes perfectly good sense right?  Anyone who has had any type of injury goes to great lengths to protect that body part.

However, physical conditions typically heal while leaving mental obstacles behind.  To me, I could not jump or apply force to my foot because it was still healing.  I felt a little discomfort at times, so clearly I was not ready, or so I thought.  My fear was that at this point I would still injure myself if I became too physical on my feet.  

This is why we have people around us to help us see the potential in ourselves that we cannot otherwise see. My PT knew what I was capable of doing at this point of my recovery.  The only issue was that I was not confident in my ability of what I could do.  My body was ready, but my mind needed a little push to get over the hill.  Needless to say, I lunged, jumped, moved, balanced, and did a host of things this past Monday, however, if I was not urged to break down the mental barrier I would have never overcame it.

We can be the biggest obstacles to our own movement forward.  It can seem like a daunting task to tear down the barriers that we have created, but if we never attempt to overcome then we will always be stuck where we are.  Do not let your thoughts of what you think you can do place limits in your life.  So, what's holding you back today and what's your plan for overcoming it?

Matthew 17:20  "And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you."  

Be Blessed,

Antoine E. Hall

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Sometimes Pain Is a Good Thing

Have you ever had to experience a little pain in your life?  Almost all the time, we try to do all within our power to avoid pain.  However, there are times in our lives where it is unavoidable.  Look at this example.  When our family drive to and from North Carolina we have to drive through the mountains.  Now, in order to get through a couple of the ranges, we have to drive through tunnels.  If you are that person who is scared to drive through tunnels you have no choice but to continue your current route.  Because you are on the interstate, you cannot turn around, but you have to drive through.  You could stop at the tunnel's entrance, but then you have no where else to go but to push on through to the other side.  In some cases, we have to  grimace, wince, and push through pain in order to succeed at some things in life.  It could be that you are exercising for strengthening to be a better athlete or rehabbing from a surgical procedure so that you can get your body back to normal.  In both instances, you have to drive through the pain to appreciate the end results. So really in some ways, pain can be a good thing.

Be Blessed!

Antoine E. Hall

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Where Is Your Heart?

As I walked down the side walk on the way into work this morning, something hit me that I should do.  As I thought about this idea, it struck me how much effort and thought I put into it.  It was so easy to plan and conjure more ideas of how to make the previous idea work! It is amazing that the things we are passionate about are so easy to do.  It doesn't take much to put your best foot forward when you are moving forward towards something where your heart is.

In book of Matthew, Jesus speaks to a multitude of people about a range of subjects.  One of those subjects is about storing your treasures in heaven:

Matthew 6:19-21  - "(19) “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. (20) But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. (21) For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Man, this is so simple and makes so much sense because Jesus places this exactly where normal people can understand it.  Verse 21 is where I would like to focus, because it has more implications in our every day lives than we care to understand.  Your treasures can be your physical money or possessions.  Your treasure could also be your time and where you spend the most time can also tell where your heart is. 

Everything that you do links back to our values and the things about which we are passionate.  Whether it be for good or for bad, you heart is somewhere.  The question is where is your heart?  What drives or motivates you?  What do you wake up in the morning and think you absolutely need to get done today?  It never hurts to do some objective self-reviewing because as we move through life, we can do so obliviously at times.  Today, take a step back.  Take a little time to re-evaluate where you are placing your treasures.  After all, if you find where are your treasures, there you will also find your heart.

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Natural Visionaries

Have you ever noticed the design of the human body?  Have you ever noticed the placement of the eyes on our faces?  I know this sounds pretty ridiculous because you are probably thinking, "Duh, yes I do know that our eyes are in our head and on our face." That's fine, but what I am more interested in is where on our head our eyes are placed and in which direction they allow us to see.

Our eyes are not on the side, top, or back of our heads.  They are placed on the front of our face almost most at the highest point of our body.  They allow us to see forward. Yes, they allow us to see from side to side as well as up and down, but the main line of vision is still with a forward focus. Without the movement of your neck, you may look up, but the direction is primarily forward and I believe this is for a reason.

We are designed with a forward thinking focus in mind.  We can see in front of us.  We cannot see behind us (without turning around) and that ability helps us to have forward thinking focus!  I am talking about vision, where someone wants to make something happen because of a God given purpose and/or the desire to address a needed changed.  When was the last time you knew of someone to have a vision that focused on going backwards?  The answer is probably and most likely, never. "Vision is a clear mental picture of what could be, fueled by the conviction that it should be"¹.  If you are focused on what "could be" and "should be" then you are talking about something that has not happened yet, but you can "see it".  It is looking forward.

Time moves forward. We face forward.  We walk forward.  Even to someone who does not have the physical abilities of sight, their other senses (hearing, touch, smell, & taste) are extra sensitive in assisting them to move forward in and through life.  It is not natural to move backwards or to dwell on the past because no matter where you choose to place your focus, life is still moving forward.  You might as well look to the future with your natural expectancy and envision where you could and should be going.  The question is now, where are you going?


¹Stanley, Andy. "Visioneering: God's Blueprint for Developing and Maintaining Personal Vision". Pg 18. 2005.

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Keeping Expectations in the Face of Failure

Wile E. Coyote 

Well Happy New Year Folks!!  Over this past Christmas and New Years, I got the unusual chance to take a vacation.  A long and well needed vacation unlike I have never taken before.  As such I got to spend a lot of quality time with my wife and kids, so it's still taking a while to get back into the swing of things this morning.

As a family we all got a chance to sit down and watch the Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck movie (to which our seven year old daughter seems to have memorized every line already).  For me it was fun because I got to watch my kids appreciate the same simple cartoons that we watched while growing up.  We literally laughed for most of the movie and as they say laughter is good for the soul!

In the midst of that laughter, I found myself putting my adult analysis on the Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner clashes.  It dawned on me that there was never an episode where the coyote caught the road runner (at least that I could remember).  That means out of years and years of watching the same show, that coyote kept chasing and trying different ways to catch that bird!  He tried and tried and tried, but never could get any of his tactics to work.

Many of us would quit with 100% failure.  I could understand stopping if you attempted to do something the same way every time and got the same results.  That is insanity.  However, Wile E. tried a variety of things with different consequences, but the same results.....no road runner.  The one consistent thing that he did have was determination.  Not matter what happened, he was for certain the next attempt would be the one!

Look at Wile E. Coyote in the picture above.  Despite all the failed attempts, he still prepared to eat.  At least he would have been in the correct position had he caught the Road Runner. Many of us start out things with good intentions, but after failing a few times we lose motivation.  We no longer expect to win, but rather our attempts become a repetitive experience with no expected outcome.

For example,  when I was in college, we had to call into a system called TRACS to register for classes.   When the time frame opened up, the phone lines were flooded and you would just have to hang up and redial to get through.  After several attempts of not getting through, redial just became routine and I would expect to fail instead of getting through.  On occasions I would finally get through then hang up due to routine, only to realize that the phone was actually ringing.  ARRRRRRG!!!  My expectations had changed and I wasn't ready and prepared when the results changed in my favor.

Can you say the same for you and your life?  Have you been running into a brick wall over and over again?  How does it make you feel in the process?  It can be tough, but I would suggest you take a look at Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner for inspiration.  Hold your head up high and keep marching forward.  While catching the Road Runner would surely have marked the end of the cartoon as we know it, but we also know it to be just that....a cartoon.  As for you, failure will happen, but don't let your determination and expectations leave you, "[f]or the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry."  So, put your napkin around your neck, get your knife and get your fork ready in expectation for your next attempt!

Be blessed folks and have a good one!

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