I was cleaning up my office and ran across this ironically... Maybe this is still true even five years later. Enjoy.
A black walnut grows on a tree and is green while it is still attached to the tree. This is where it gets its nourishment, support, guidance and rules for living. There comes a time, however, when the black walnut must fall from the tree. After it falls, then it will sit around on the ground or may be harvested by humans.
In both cases, the black walnut begins an aging process by which it turns from green to a dark brown or black hue. Then it wrinkles up similar to what happens when a grape turns into a raisin. At this point, the drying out process has taken place. Then you are able to remove the black stuff to reveal a hard core or shell.
A hammer is then needed to break it open and if the black walnut is not covered, the shell can go everywhere.
Aren't we, the congregation, the Body of Christ, like the black walnut? We were born into this world and a little green, or new to our environment. We had that parent or guardian provide for us, give us nourishment, and that guidance that we so needed, but may or may not have listened to. We then fell from the tree, still green, and got cut off from our parents/guardians to begin anew. We may have been still green in our spiritual walk as well. At some point, we either cut God and the church out of our lives or ended up accepting that there is a God and began to go to church.
We became "pew" members by just going to church and rushing out of the church doors, having spoken to no one. Then we began to get older doing a little within the church (our aging process like the black walnut). Then something got a hold of us and made us shed how we used to be or like the black walnut, shed that skin to reveal another shell.
God is trying to break that shell and keep you covered at the same time so you can receive the blessings that He has for you and not get spread all over the place. I heard a pastor say once that you have been spared so many times from death and destruction and in so many situations. What have you been spared to do? Was it so you could be saved? So you could receive His Word? Spread His Word? Usher? Acolyte? Sing in the choir? Attend Sunday School or Bible Study? Serve on the Hospitality Committee? There is work to be done in the Kingdom.
In God's time and our obedience, our shells can be broken.
