I have been raving on the insanely hot, crazy summer we have had here in Central Texas. June-August was the hottest such period on record for the states of Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, and New Mexico. In fact, in records dating to 1895, the June-August mean statewide temperatures in Oklahoma, Texas, and Louisiana were three of the four hottest such summer mean temperatures on record for the U.S. Now that the weather has cooled down and we have had a little rain, plant life here is quite confused on what to do! Roses, trees, and shrubs are blooming, putting out new leaves, and the grass is turning green again. A few days ago, a cold front blew in and the skies turned grey casting a dreary façade on the landscape. As we were looking out the kitchen window into the back yard, I commented that it looked like winter, pondered for a moment and said “well, if you don’t look at all the flowers and green grass”.
I did a little research and learned that fall blossoming in fruit and other spring flowering trees and shrubs can occur if the tree is stressed during the summer (heat, drought, etc.). While stressed, a plant may become dormant. When the weather moderates, if conditions are just right, the tree comes out of dormancy and flowers as if it were springtime. The trees do not usually expend all their blossom buds at this time, so there should be more flowers next spring. So if you have been scratching your head and wondering why your fruit trees are blooming in November, now you know!
Latent, inactive, sleeping, resting, undeveloped, hidden, and quiescent are all synonyms for the adjective dormant. So many of us can’t seem to escape from difficult circumstances and stresses in our lives and as a result we slip into dormancy, a place where growth and development are not required. This can be a dangerous place to be. If we don't pass through this place, we can become self-absorbed and stagnate and this leads us away from God and our relationships with others. God didn’t intend for us to be alone, he covets an intimate relationship with us and commands us to make that relationship the number one priority in our life, followed by the command to make our relationship with others number two. That is why we are here, to love God and others, learn, grow, and form relationships that will break through any hurdles that keep life stagnate. Finally, it is through our relationships that we can lead others to Christ, who, when our work is done here, will transplant our lives and loves here on earth, to eternal ones in Heaven.
Stress and circumstances are the droughts of life, while relationships are the sustenance of life. Nurturing significant relationships and relishing the healing that they can bring will carry you out of dormancy and into full bloom…no matter the season.
"For I know the plans I have for you say the Lord, plans for welfare, not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." - NSV Jeremiah 29:11
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