What are you planting?

 There are four seasons in a year: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall.  

Spring is traditionally the time to labor and a time of preparing the ground for growth.  It is the time to seed the ground for future plants.  

Summer is a time of watching and protecting new growth.  A time to make sure that the efforts of the Spring result in plants that meet their purpose.  

Fall is the time of harvesting that growth.  It is time to reap what you sowed.

Then comes Winter, a time to enjoy the fruits of your labor.  It is a time to rest and to prepare for the new seasons ahead.  

The cycle is repeated over and over again. These same seasons are reflected in our lives.  

Recently we have been reminded that in everything there is a season.  As a society we admire success and achievement. We marvel at how certain individuals can push themselves harder, farther, stronger than the rest of us.  

We praise those who become "the top of their game".  We try to emulate what they have done so that we also may accomplish. Yet when we put these individuals on a pedestal without fully understanding their process, we can miss important information.  

Many people have been troubled and distraught by the revelations of Lance Armstrong.  He accomplished some incredible feats. Some that were so incredible, they were unbelievable and often questioned. After years of denying that it was the result of anything other than hard work, it is revealed that he lied, cheated and destroyed others in an effort to be " The best". Yet his life is an example for all of us.

We posses the capacity to accomplish great things, impact people's lives for good, while achieving our personal best. Yet at the same time we posses the capacity to do great harm, destroy other’s reputations and lives, and impact our surroundings in a negative way.  

Lance Armstrong’s story also reminds us that the type of seeds we plant determines the kind of fruit we eat.  If we plant the seeds of pain, deception, and greed we may see positive growth in the Summer of life, but Fall is coming.  We will reap the same fruits we have planted. Winter will be cold, bitter and miserable as we feast upon the bitter fruits of our labor.  However, if we plant the seeds of encouragement, truth, and service, we may see a Summer of struggle, but Fall is coming.  We will enjoy the sweet fruit of a harvest that recognizes the integrity of our labor.

This might be the time to check your seeds, make adjustments, and replant. 

You determine what seeds you want to plant.  Whatever season you are heading into....

Plant Wisely!