Humility, Solomon and His Pomegranates

Would you like a good reminder of your importance? Resign from your job you've held for 10 years, and listen for the crickets. 

I've heard it said once or twice that if you want to see your importance, put your hand into a bucket of water and then pull it out. The water is moving around while your hand goes in, but when your hand is removed, the water settles down and remains in the bucket the same level as it was before. 

I have found that when people come and go, we give it a thought and then continue on with our own job, thankful we still have one. 

At times, I was an energy vampire, characterized in Jon Gordon's book, "The Energy Bus" as a person who sucked the energy from a group or organization wanting to move forward in positivity. 

Positivity is a powerful emotion and needs freedom to move about. 

I wasn't always an EV, but I think I was enough of an EV, that when I left, there was probably some relief from admin. 

I know that I brought many good things to the table, but at the end of the day, if a person doesn't share the same passion for the vision of the organization, it's time to move on. 

My wife said a wise and profound thing: "if the vision no longer resonates, it's time". 

The mission statement of authentic Christian leaders did resonate. The methodology did not. 

That, by no means, posits anyone was right or wrong, it simply means that people in the organization who agree with the methodology, need to go full forward while those who do not, need to move along. 

I have my doubts daily that my decision was correct although it was inevitable a few months from now. I've simply sped up the process and forced my reliance upon God much sooner than I had anticipated. And right now, I am in a state of full reliance. 

It is certainly an unusual and uncomfortable feeling-I am on the outside looking in at a profession I've been a part of for 23 years. 

I am mixed with relief and melancholy. 

The bottom line - life goes on- for everyone. We are too busy with our own lives think about much else. 

The word pomegranate, “rimon” in Hebrew, is derived from the Latin words "pomum" (apple) and "granatus" (seeded). Grown in the Mediterranean region for several thousand years, this remarkable fruit is rich in symbolism and there are specific references to the pomegranate in the Bible. 

Jewish tradition of the pomegranates is said to be symbolic of righteousness because it has 613 seeds and the Torah has 613 Commandments. 

Others have thought the pomegranate to be the forbidden fruit in the garden of Eden. It has been equated with the symbol of fertility and also appeared on the front of ancient Judea coins. 

Song of Solomon 4:3

Song of Solomon 4:13

Song of Solomon 7:12 

Song of Solomon 8:2