Today I noticed that my harvest contained berries of various sizes. One berry in particular had grown to an incredible size, compared to my standard, hormone-free, backyard strawberries.
As I brought the berries inside to be washed and cut into my bowl I reflected on why the same plants receiving the same care would produce such different fruit.
As the one who waters the plants daily, I can attest that each plant receives the same amount of water.
As the one who prunes the plants, I can attest that each plant receives the same pruning.
As the one who adds compost to the roots of the plants, I can attest that each plant receives the same amount of compost.
With those variables set aside, I must consider what other factors are going on that I do not see. What other systems are at play in producing this enormous berry compared to the smaller berries? What is happening under the soil that I may not see without deeper investigation?
What are the factors that have caused this berry to grow and thrive?
Perhaps my soil is not level so the water runs to one side of my container more than another.
Perhaps in spreading my compost, this one plant received the lion's share of it without me being aware. Or maybe my compost was not mixed in such a way to spread out all the nutrients available.
Perhaps its an issue of placement. One plant was simply planted in a better position than the others.
Perhaps as I dig out older plants and replace them with younger plants I have not paid attention to strawberry varieties.
Perhaps this plant is a newer plant that has seen far fewer 100+ temperature summer days than the berry plants surrounding it.
They are all strawberry plants, so they should all thrive equally, but instead, they produce different sized berries.
I was not being intentional in setting one plant up against another, but as the keeper of my garden, it is my job, now that I see the discrepancy, to make some adjustments and rearrange some plants and soil. As the gardener, part of my watering mornings are looking at how plants are growing and the fruit they are producing and then to work backward to isolate, identify and change my planter box in the hope that all my plants can thrive and have a chance to produce lovely, large berries.
Whether in my garden, in life, or in ministry, this analogy holds true. Once we see a discrepancy, let's do some digging and figure out how to help all reach their potential.
