June 27, 2025

“From Scraps”

If you read this column regularly, you know that often the place where I begin is an observation that has something to do with gardening.  It is in my blood.  My Grandfather was a farmer.  My Grandmother had a large garden.  We had a large garden when I was growing up.  Often, we would help out my Grandmother, and vice versa, when things were really producing.  My other Grandmother loved gardening too, but her gardening centered more around flowers and indoor plants.  So over the years, there has always been a little gardening project of some kind going on.  Well, the other day, I tried something new.

I have seen articles pop up in my social feed about reusing kitchen scraps, planting, and harvesting from kitchen scraps.  With certain vegetables, you can “plant” a section, a top, or a bottom that would normally be thrown away, and in time, it will grow into a whole new plant that you can harvest.  Well, tidying up around the kitchen the other day, Bonnie saw that we had some garlic that was starting to sprout.  She was going to toss them, but asked me what I wanted to do.  Something possessed me.  I said, “I’m going to try planting them and see what happens.”  So I did.  Five cloves of leftover garlic started to sprout little green shoots.  Guess what?  In about three or four days, they have all sprouted!  I’m nowhere near harvesting for some sauce or dressing, but there is future deliciousness growing in our little indoor plant nook.  From scraps.  I can’t tell you how many times I have tossed the last clove or two because they were too far gone to use in whatever I was cooking. 

How many times have you tossed out a clove or two that you could get something more from, if you just give it a second chance, and a little bit of care?  Okay, maybe cooking isn’t your thing.  But, how many times have you given up on something, or moved on from something, or someone, when there may have been potential, or a future, if you gave it another chance?  We all do it.  Our society encourages it.  We use things up and then toss them out.  We consume and then throw away.  We enjoy for a little while and then move on to something else that is shiny and new.  Sadly, sometimes people get treated this way, too. 

Do we have to save every scrap or repurpose every item that we ever own?  Certainly not.  Maybe a little extra thought and consideration are appropriate before we just toss everything.  Certainly, we should consider the welfare of the people we meet and deal with, so that we don’t quickly dismiss anyone we don’t agree with or dislike for any reason, or don’t see how they can help us.  In fact, the ones that we struggle with the most, probably need the most consideration – and prayer.  Is there some way to turn a situation or relationship around, to make it something new?  To grow some new potential? 

If you think about it, every one of us is a reclamation project.  God the Father, through His Son, Jesus, has worked to reclaim us and make us new.  Whether you realize it or not, every one of us has had more second chances than we can count.  If God tossed out broken things, unclean things, He would have been done with us … well, a long time ago.  But God keeps fussing with us, working with us, giving us another chance; all in the name of bringing something new to life.  He takes our scraps and creates something new.  Maybe we should try a little more of the same ourselves.

“He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!”  Then He said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”  Revelation 21:5

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 1 Corinthians 5:17

Grace, Mercy, and Peace,

Pastor Blaine