“Grow Where You Are Planted” is a Biblical adage. Okay, almost Biblical. 

 I am planted in Arizona, where the Saguaro grows for 150 years in desert sand, in stark contrast to the Indiana hardwood forest landscape of my growing-up years. 

For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge— God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you.-1 Cor. 1:5-6

My roots will always pull me back to Indiana. When I visited Mount Rushmore last summer and walked the Avenue of Flags, I immediately ran to the most beautiful state flag: Indiana’s dark-blue field with a golden torch bearing 19 stars celebrating its admission as the 19th state to the union in 1816. However, my second stop was Arizona’s flag on this magnificent avenue. The red and yellow rays represent the 13 original colonies (the same as the Indiana flag’s 13 outer-circle stars), and the sun setting over the desert, while the dark blue lower field represents the Colorado River and connects me to the Indiana flag. The copper star identifies Arizona as the largest copper-producing state in the union. 

Arizona is growing on me. 

Empowered by the Holy Spirit to bloom and grow, I must run toward what God sets before me. If I believe I am being conformed to the image of Christ, to think like Him, to act like Him, and to have the same attitude as Him, it requires me to find ways to serve Him where I am located. 

Arizona’s motto is “Ditat Deus,” Latin for “God enriches.” I have found it so. 

Prayer: 

Heavenly Father,

I trust you have planted me where I am now. Teach me to speak truthfully, offer encouragement, exercise restraint, give generously, and forgive richly. For in You I have been enriched in every way. Amen