Helicopter Seeds by Ted Slater on 12/13/2007 at 12:55 PM

Remember those? When you were a kid you'd scoop up a handful from the gutter and watch in amazement as they spiraled to the ground? I do.

The years have squelched the hours when I'd be filled with wonder at the falling of maple seeds. For all their showiness, only a select few ever accomplished their goal of growing into a tree. Instead, most ended up ground into the pavement or choked in the tall backyard grass. I find myself wondering how much of what I do is like those spinning seeds: quite a show, but of no ultimate worth.

The words of Shakespeare's Macbeth come to mind: "Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more: it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing."

I'm also reminded of Ecclesiastes 9:9: "Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun — all your meaningless days. For this is your lot in life and in your toilsome labor under the sun."

Boundless author George Halitzka asks in a sobering narrative whether the things in our lives that we marvel at are like those helicopter seeds. Or maybe God is more like our youthful selves, and takes joy in the beauty of the seemingly fruitless activities that make up our days. You'll want to set aside a good 10 minutes to read "Helicopter Seeds."

Helicopter Seeds by Ted Slater on 12/13/2007 at 12:55 PM

Remember those? When you were a kid you'd scoop up a handful from the gutter and watch in amazement as they spiraled to the ground? I do.

The years have squelched the hours when I'd be filled with wonder at the falling of maple seeds. For all their showiness, only a select few ever accomplished their goal of growing into a tree. Instead, most ended up ground into the pavement or choked in the tall backyard grass. I find myself wondering how much of what I do is like those spinning seeds: quite a show, but of no ultimate worth.

The words of Shakespeare's Macbeth come to mind: "Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more: it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing."

I'm also reminded of Ecclesiastes 9:9: "Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun — all your meaningless days. For this is your lot in life and in your toilsome labor under the sun."

Boundless author George Halitzka asks in a sobering narrative whether the things in our lives that we marvel at are like those helicopter seeds. Or maybe God is more like our youthful selves, and takes joy in the beauty of the seemingly fruitless activities that make up our days. You'll want to set aside a good 10 minutes to read "Helicopter Seeds."

Comments

[1. kman said the following at 3:17 PM on Dec 13:]

1

I read that post.

I got a different take on that topic.

I kept waiting for him to make reference to God's creation. How even though we don't think that any seeds will ever live, yet before us stands one that did and is now raining down seeds of it's own. And that the seeds that don't make it to trees serve to feed other creatures. Or that the trees no matter how we look at them are designed to live and survive and multiply as well as they are able. Something like that.

I can understand not seeing immediate or even later results of our ministry. I've struggled with this as well. We minster because we love the Lord and we want Him to be well pleased. We have the honor of being involved with an Almighty God's redemptive work on this world. It is a privilege be included in it. And as much as I'd want immediate and spectacular results, I know I serve a God that has a plan and that it is for the good.

Or perhaps the writer was just feeling melancholy. Age will do that for ya' ;)

[2. Rachael said the following at 3:17 PM on Dec 13:]

2

Thank you!

Halitzka talks about the temporary thrills that come with conversations where God is brought into conversations, but goes on to say "I have nothing to show for those moments except bittersweet memories of young wounded souls from Cleveland"

This resonates with me and probably many reading this...Recently I've been reflecting upon what 'service' is. "Ministry" can be so exciting, and even at work this quarter I've been especially amazed by times when it seems God is working through conversations with co-workers and students...while I get so excited thinking about these things, I have to remember that just because God was brought into a conversation doesn't mean it was a seed planted in their hearts to bring them closer to faith in Christ. BUT who knows...it just might! And perhaps the reason for those exciting moments might just be for us to be excited at the thought that God might be working! Maybe that in itself is glorifying to God, even if in the end the 'fruit' we might hope for is absent?

I like how Halitzka writes this of Helicopter Seeds:

"Perhaps it doesn't matter that so many will never grow. Perhaps it is enough to see them fulfill a divine purpose. Perhaps the beauty is enough to make this breathless moment is its own reward. I even dare to imagine that maybe the seeds fall so I, and the God who made them, can be lost in childlike wonder again."

Thank you!!

[3. Julie said the following at 2:02 PM on Dec 17:]

3

This was one of the best articles I've read on Boundless. More depth, more contrast than most. I appreciated George's allowing feelings of unsureness as you pursue the Kingdom, rather than simply saying Here is something you know to be true, now act on it, never mind how you feel. I like Boundless and read it regularly but I feel that Boundless advice and articles tend to leave little room for either mourning or laughing. Head oriented, you know? I'd love some more frequent heart oriented pieces from authors like George Halitzka or Jenny Schroedel.

[4. Rachael said the following at 10:51 PM on Mar 6:]

4

Maybe a blog post will go up about Halitzka's latest Boundless article - The Scribe's Confession. But in case not, a thought came to me.

In the Luther movie (don't think I watched the whole thing) there is a point when someone says something like: "He preaches best what he needs to hear most."

It came to my mind...I like that quote, and I appreciate Halitzka's writing and honesty, and Ecclesiastical attitude.

Thank you -

[1. kman said the following at 3:17 PM on Dec 13:]

1

I read that post.

I got a different take on that topic.

I kept waiting for him to make reference to God's creation. How even though we don't think that any seeds will ever live, yet before us stands one that did and is now raining down seeds of it's own. And that the seeds that don't make it to trees serve to feed other creatures. Or that the trees no matter how we look at them are designed to live and survive and multiply as well as they are able. Something like that.

I can understand not seeing immediate or even later results of our ministry. I've struggled with this as well. We minster because we love the Lord and we want Him to be well pleased. We have the honor of being involved with an Almighty God's redemptive work on this world. It is a privilege be included in it. And as much as I'd want immediate and spectacular results, I know I serve a God that has a plan and that it is for the good.

Or perhaps the writer was just feeling melancholy. Age will do that for ya' ;)

[2. Rachael said the following at 3:17 PM on Dec 13:]

2

Thank you!

Halitzka talks about the temporary thrills that come with conversations where God is brought into conversations, but goes on to say "I have nothing to show for those moments except bittersweet memories of young wounded souls from Cleveland"

This resonates with me and probably many reading this...Recently I've been reflecting upon what 'service' is. "Ministry" can be so exciting, and even at work this quarter I've been especially amazed by times when it seems God is working through conversations with co-workers and students...while I get so excited thinking about these things, I have to remember that just because God was brought into a conversation doesn't mean it was a seed planted in their hearts to bring them closer to faith in Christ. BUT who knows...it just might! And perhaps the reason for those exciting moments might just be for us to be excited at the thought that God might be working! Maybe that in itself is glorifying to God, even if in the end the 'fruit' we might hope for is absent?

I like how Halitzka writes this of Helicopter Seeds:

"Perhaps it doesn't matter that so many will never grow. Perhaps it is enough to see them fulfill a divine purpose. Perhaps the beauty is enough to make this breathless moment is its own reward. I even dare to imagine that maybe the seeds fall so I, and the God who made them, can be lost in childlike wonder again."

Thank you!!

[3. Julie said the following at 2:02 PM on Dec 17:]

3

This was one of the best articles I've read on Boundless. More depth, more contrast than most. I appreciated George's allowing feelings of unsureness as you pursue the Kingdom, rather than simply saying Here is something you know to be true, now act on it, never mind how you feel. I like Boundless and read it regularly but I feel that Boundless advice and articles tend to leave little room for either mourning or laughing. Head oriented, you know? I'd love some more frequent heart oriented pieces from authors like George Halitzka or Jenny Schroedel.

[4. Rachael said the following at 10:51 PM on Mar 6:]

4

Maybe a blog post will go up about Halitzka's latest Boundless article - The Scribe's Confession. But in case not, a thought came to me.

In the Luther movie (don't think I watched the whole thing) there is a point when someone says something like: "He preaches best what he needs to hear most."

It came to my mind...I like that quote, and I appreciate Halitzka's writing and honesty, and Ecclesiastical attitude.

Thank you -