Photo and Commentary ©2023 by Russell Jurgensen
Thursday, April 27, 2023

It was nice to see evidence of spring like at this field near Walla Walla that is starting to turn green. It makes me think about growing things. A crop takes effort on the part of the farmer to get conditions just right. While in other places it seems like nothing can stop wild vegetation from growing.

Scientists like to talk about conditions being just right in the universe to support life. When I think about it, growing things like wheat and even blackberries are kind of amazing.

Another thing that is amazing is how our minds can grow. We can learn new languages and skills. New Scientist magazine had an article about how we learn to read and how to go about teaching kids to read. When I think about the Bible and what it is trying to teach us, I keep coming back to the two most important commandments.

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:36-40

It seems that Jesus wants us to learn how to love. So, as I think about how to grow my mind, I’m going to ponder regularly how I can love God and love my neighbor better.