Lessons from a Mushroom

 In the world of gears, steam, and brass, Caleb knew he needed a break from the relentless pace of his workshop. The steam-driven timepieces he crafted had been consuming his every waking moment, and he yearned for a change of scenery. It was then that he had a brilliant idea: inviting his friend Amara to join him on a weekend retreat to his grandparents' steam-powered farm.

 The following weekend the automaton-driven steam carriage delivered Caleb and Amara at the train station. They both stood on the platform as the big black steam engine came to a stop with a hiss and spewed a huge cloud of steam. After boarding and finding their seats, they settled in for the hour-long trip.

As the train chugged through the winding hills, Caleb couldn't help but steal glances at Amara. The soft sunlight filtering through the carriage windows kissed her auburn curls, creating a mesmerizing halo around her head. Her laughter and easy conversation brought warmth to the otherwise mechanical journey.

 Caleb thoroughly enjoyed the conversation with Amara, and before he knew it his thoughts began to wander down paths he had never dared tread before. Amara cleared her throat. A knowing smile played on her lips, and she broke the silence that had settled between them, "Caleb, you've been rather quiet. Lost in thought?"

Caleb stammered, "Oh, no, just enjoying the scenery." He was relieved that the awkward moment lasted only a minute, as the train started slowing down for their stop.

Upon arriving at his grandparents' farm, Caleb wasted no time in embracing the rural life he cherished. Early the next morning, he descended to the basement to replenish the coal bin that fed the boiler, a task he had performed countless times in his youth. As he returned upstairs to the rustic kitchen, he found Amara and his grandmother hard at work preparing breakfast.

Caleb's grandmother, eyes twinkling with warmth, told him to wash up. Amara took a napkin and wiped a smudge of coal dust from his cheek, her touch gentle and caring. Caleb felt a rush of embarrassment and a tinge of excitement as his cheeks flushed. He hurried off to the bathroom, unable to ignore the soft laughter, shared between his grandmother and Amara, that trailed him.

 After a hearty breakfast, Caleb ventured out to the barn and got a fire going in the vintage steam tractor, an old relic that still served the family well. After waiting for the steam to build enough pressure, he drove it out to the field where his grandfather was tending to the crops. Caleb couldn't help but wonder aloud, "Grandpa, why do you farm with such narrow tilled rows, leaving so much of the ground untouched?"

 Grandpa, a man of few words but abundant wisdom, pointed to a cluster of mushrooms growing in the undisturbed soil. "See these mushrooms, Caleb?" he said. "There's more to them than meets the eye. Just like life. What you see above ground is just a fraction of the story. The real magic happens beneath the surface, in the mycelium. It's a network of interconnected threads that provides essential nutrients to the plants, breaking down organic matter and recycling it. Nature is a delicate balance created by the Almighty, and we ought to respect it."

Caleb listened in wonder, his respect for the intricacies of the world deepening. He marveled at how God's design wove every living thing into a harmonious whole, an ecosystem that gave and took in a beautifully orchestrated dance.

 After a hearty dinner that evening, Caleb mustered the courage to ask Amara if she'd like to take a walk. They strolled in companionable silence for a while, the moon casting a gentle glow upon the farmland. Finally, Caleb gathered his resolve and turned to Amara, his heart pounding.

 "Amara," he began, his voice trembling, "there's something I've been meaning to say."

 Amara smiled warmly, her eyes filled with understanding. "I think I know what you're going to say, Caleb."

 In that moonlit moment, Caleb realized that what he had discovered was mutual. Amara took his hand, their fingers intertwining like two gears fitting seamlessly into each other. Words became unnecessary, as the sparks between them ignited a new chapter in their lives. The stars above, and the intricate web of life beneath their feet, bore witness to a love that had blossomed on a steampunk weekend amidst the wonders of nature and the warmth of family.

 

God’s kingdom of love operates upon natural law-law built right into nature-

And therefore it is like this: A person spreads seed on the ground.

Once the seed is spread, regardless of what the person does-watches it or sleeps-

the seed sprouts and grows, even though the person cannot explain how.

Without any help from human, the soil produces grain,and it develops naturally

in a predictable course: first a stalk, then a head, and then full kernels in the head.

And when the grain is ripe, then it is cut, for harvest time has come.

 Mark 4:30-32  The Remedy, by Dr. Tim Jennings