Shuck your Corn.
I couldn’t help but notice her sitting on a suitcase along the roadside bent over with her head on her knees and her face covered.
She wasn’t a hitchhiker as she paid no attention to the cars speeding past her.
Her posture told me she was in distress. She was hiding from the world in plain sight. She felt no one noticed her; she was forgotten.
“Stop and see if she needs help.” The Voice spoke to my heart quietly.
My fears rose up, a million “what if’s” clamoring for my attention.
Then I remembered Pastor Alex Pearne’s illustration from the previous Sunday. He spoke on the following passage briefly, but wanted us to pay close attention to the parts where it says to strip off every weight that slows us down.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.”
Hebrews 12:1-4 NLT
Pastor Alex then pulled out an ear of sweet corn.
“This is like our lives. Each kernel represents the seeds we have and each seed represents thousands of potential seeds IF planted.”
He then pulled out another ear of corn that still had the outside husk on it.
“This ear of corn represents someone who hasn’t removed the stuff of life that’s slowing them down. The seeds inside this person have no chance of being planted for a future harvest. The husk represents fears, insecurities, sins, apathy, laziness, etc. The husks must be removed in order to access the seeds.”
As I drove back to the woman, I figuratively began to shuck my corn, throwing off the the things slowing me down in my race.
“Ma’am, do you need help?” I asked as I approached her.
“I just need a ride to Walgreens. My suitcase ripped and I know it won’t make it.”
“I can give you a ride. Do you need any food or water? I don’t have any cash, but I can take you through a drive thru.”
“No, I’m good.” She said.
We made our introductions and shared some other information.
“I want you to know that God told me to stop and help you because He loves you so much,” I said quietly.
The tears came suddenly for both of us.
We connected.
The love of God overwhelmed us both.
We prayed in the Walgreens parking lot, and my seeds were planted in a strangers life.
I shucked my corn.
What husk do you need to remove to plant your seeds?