Grow Something
Mr. Rod McNair started his forum this past Tuesday by asking, “Isn’t it sad that as mankind, we either make anything we touch worse or destroy it?” As Christians, it is essential not to lose touch with nature. From the dust, mankind came, and to it, we will return, as seen in Genesis 3:19. From this, it is clear that God intended man to tend and keep the land. “So what about you?”
As Living Education students learn how to build a spiritual foundation, Mr. McNair recommended always incorporating growing plants into their lives. Try to grow something, no matter where you are, heading, or where you live.
Mr. McNair posed the question, “What can you grow?” He gave two recommendations. One option was flowers, which add color and scent to the environment. He told the young men, “Hint: girls like flowers, and growing them can be a gift to one in your life.” We were also encouraged to “Grow something to eat.” Growing your food is a healthy and cost-efficient option in the long term.
Why grow something? Small growing projects can have positive benefits, such as connecting to the reality of God and improving one’s health. Studies have shown that growing plants goes beyond bending and walking; they also reduce stress and anxiety, assist with attention deficit recovery, decrease depression, enhance memory retention, help improve happiness and life satisfaction, and increase self-esteem. These benefits do not just apply to outside plants. Indoor house plants work just as well by boosting moods, productivity, and concentration. They also give some privacy and reduce noise levels in offices or homes.
Mr. McNair explained that many popular and top games involve farming and gardening. He also showed that everything that someone gains from online gardening is limited, while gardening in real life has physical benefits.
He listed these steps to grow something: be practical, grow what you like, do it quickly, and take advantage of where you live. Then, he challenged the Living Education students to grow something for themselves then and there. He gave each student a small plastic cup with some “dirt” and let them choose a couple of seeds to put in the dirt.
He encouraged us all to grow something and reminded us how easy it is to start somewhere small. “Moreover, the profit of the land is for all; even the king is served from the field.”
