Of Blackberries, Gooseberries, and Other Glories of Heaven
By Pastor Brian Albert
Recently I decided to go pick some blackberries and gooseberries on my parent’s place. Those of you who grew up with some summer delicacies understand my delight of a fresh blackberry cobbler and gooseberry pie. Having convinced my wife to make me a blackberry cobbler, I swaggered into the woods with a few buckets, gum boots, and a long stick to warn snakes that I’m coming. A couple hours later, I emerged with the goods; two buckets full of fresh blackberries and gooseberries, and I could have gone back for more. I am convinced that berry picking’ is something of a lost art. I think it would do well for anyone under the age of eighteen to make a vow of abstinence from Game Boy, texting, Face book, or any other gizmos for berry picking. Will Rodgers once quipped, “What this country needs is cleaner minds and dirtier finger nails.” An afternoon of berry picking’ will suffice Will, thank you very much. There is some suffering you must endure for blackberries and gooseberries. For instance, I hate the heat, specifically, the sultry, humid heat of summertime. For some, sweat tends to glisten off people, like drops on top of a lemon meringue pie, for me sweat flows like a gushing dam. Another burden to bear is mosquitoes; those insects constantly were swarming around my ear, never really landing with in arms reach. When they did land it was in the middle of my back, so I had to endure their attack. Then of course, I had to counter the defense of blackberries and gooseberries, namely the thorns. The brambles have an uncanny way of reaching out and grabbing you, so I looked as if I had been attacked by barbed wire. Still having endured sweat, snakes, mosquitoes, ticks, heat, and thorns, I emerged with nature’s candy. And later that evening was eating the fruits of my labor.
Life is like a bowl of berries. Wild berries that is; the kind that reaches out and grabs you and won’t let go. This life has a way of making a nuisance of oneself and leaves us bitten, scrapped, and terribly exhausted. What is interesting for the believer is that trials are temporary pain that results in everlasting joy. Notice how happiness is often connected to trials. Jesus said, “Happy are you when you are persecuted for righteousness sake.” “Happy are you when you are reviled for My sake.” James tells us “happy is the man that endures trials for when he is tried he will receive the crown of life.” “Consider those happy who are steadfast”. Peter writes, “When you suffer for righteousness you will be happy.” “If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are happy.”
Scripture is rich with evidence that though life gives us some nasty scraps and trials reach out and bite us, we will taste the sweet glory of Jesus. The Apostle Paul’s words still pack with flavor, “this light momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison.”
Delighting in God with you,
Pastor Brian