My recent situation calls to mind Scriptures about God bringing His people into the land He promised them. He said they would eat fruit from trees they didn't plant, harvest things others sowed, and drink wine from vines they have not cultivated. This was a blessing from the Lord.
As surely as I am called during this season to cultivate, God has also shown favor in giving things whose roots and origins precede me. The analogy stands for natural and spiritual alike.
I am mostly reminded when I reap the ripe papayas from the trees lining the boundary with our neighbor. We have permission to harvest the fruit that ripens on our side of the tree. Papayas recently became one of my favorite fruits- so this is a special (and seemingly personalized) joy to me. In addition, a long established lilikoi (passion fruit) vine is laden with soon-to-ripen fruits on the backyard fence. We are enjoying fruit we did not plant, eating what others sowed- and this is a refreshment and restful gift from the Lord.
I am reminded that while we cultivate, it is God that makes growth. Fruit and rest are gifts of God and not our works. We are both called to cultivation and called to rest and blessing.
