When was the last time you took a plant on vacation? 

For me, it was just a few months ago. Perpetua, my shamrock plant, has tagged along with me on road trips and flights across the country.

Perpetua is larger than life among my close friends, not only because she is well-traveled (for a plant, that is), but because she has come back from the dead more than once. There is more to this decorative little piece of greenery than her soft shoots and delicate leaves. Perpetua’s secret to a long life are her hardy bulbs, hidden quietly beneath the dirt.

When Perpetua springs back to life, I find the process of regrowth fascinating. Each day can bring about drastic changes, which is why I have a hard time letting her out of my sight. Even when the pot reveals no obvious signs of life, consistent watering pays off. The bulbs beneath the soil recharge over time and prepare to burst forth in a sudden frenzy of life.

One shoot will appear. Then, several days later, another. Soon enough, it becomes difficult to count how many fresh stems are unfurling enthusiastically from the ground. These days, Perpetua is unfurling and flowering so regularly that she has to be watered more frequently. Her thirsty roots need attention. 

Why am I telling you about my shamrock plant? Perpetua, in all her glory, reminds me that everyone has a soul - like a bulb beneath the ground - though we cannot see it. Jesus is always seeking ways to water even what appears to be a lifeless pot of dirt. You may be surprised to discover how spiritually thirsty a person is whom you’ve written off as disinterested in God. Perhaps God is inviting you to help him water someone’s life in a specific way. Will you recognize the first unfurling shoot when you see it?

When Perpetua began to grow back the first time, I brought her along for a road trip to make sure she didn’t miss a watering. As my mom and I drove hours into Ontario cottage-country, I strapped her into the backseat of my car with a seatbelt. Sometimes, we may be invited to journey with someone in this way, for the long haul. It’s important that these long-term relationships are organic and life giving to both people, even if we are the ones primarily watering.

When you catch sight of a spiritual shoot in someone’s life, will you keep watering it consistently, even if that means inviting that person more deeply into your own life, in the same way you’d have to get real on a road trip?

The second time Perpetua resurrected, I was flying home to Vancouver and attempted to give her the empty seat beside me on the airplane. Instead, at the last minute, a man boarded and claimed the spot, and she ended up tucked away in a carry-on bag under the seat. I told my new seat companion about the plant who wanted his seat and he laughed. We proceeded to talk for the next four hours about life and, eventually, his new-found faith in Jesus. He had been raised in an actively anti-Christian home, but one month prior to the flight he had begun to attend church at the invitation of his boss.

The conversation wasn’t forced. Jesus wasn’t even mentioned until two hours into the journey. When I spoke Jesus’ name (in reference to events in my own life), I was prepared for the conversation to die off. Instead, he began to share his own story. This farmer-by-trade was attending Alpha and clearly thirsty for conversation about faith.

We were mutually encouraged as we talked about how Jesus had worked in our lives. As we shared, I felt a thirstiness resurface in my heart as well. Through that encounter, I was reminded that with some people we may only have a brief opportunity to “water.” The Holy Spirit doesn’t need much time, and often we find ourselves changed in the process too.

We water by laughing with others. We water by listening. We water by loving and then speaking the name of Jesus even in places that we think will be unlikely to receive him.

Every human person has deep roots connected to the Father. Let the Holy Spirit draw out enthusiastic shoots of spiritual growth, and may we be unafraid to pick up our watering cans.

Do you have a story of how God is working in your life? We hope you'll consider sharing your story and using it as a way to encourage others in the movement.  

Share your story