“Wonderin, Blunderin and Thunderin”
“A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. He who has ears let him hear. Matthew 13:1-9
Going through cherry harvest this last week has brought a whole new perspective for me on the above verse. Reflecting back over the years and remembering my friend Chris Quinn’s advice that cherry farming is a wonderin, blunderin, thunderin proposition. The first phase is the “wonderin” phase. Do I have the right site? Do I have the right variety of cherry? A thousand questions to wonder about. The next phase is the “blunderin” phase----here is where you pay for the wrong decisions from the “wonderin” phase and you wonder if you will ever have an orchard that will be productive much less financially viable. Then with corrections of mistakes learned during the “blunderin” phase you began to see results. And one day you are amazed at what a relatively small plot of ground can produce. You see the converging of all the variables both within your control and outside of your control. You have a sense of Gods “thunderin” presence and provision.
So what does this have the do with leading a small group? So often in small groups the “wonderin” phase looks like a step of faith; a response in obedience to lead and make oneself available for the work of the Kingdom. It’s about your intentional decision to step out and begin the planting, facilitating and leading process. The “blunderin” phase is what we all go through….mistakes made in working out the process of ministry. Making mistakes and being transparent before our groups while modeling our imperfections and our successes. As we open our lives they began to open theirs and “life” begins to invade our life groups.
The “thunderin” phase often comes in ways that we would never anticipate. Perhaps in seeing a leader rise among your group and then a new group is planted. It may come as fruit is evident in the changed lives of your group members and life decisions become more Christ-like and less self centered. It may come in a moment of tears when you begin to see a wound opened so healing can at last begin. In the economy of heaven the one is as important as the ninety-nine and fruitfulness is not measured in numbers. If the fruitfulness of your ministry impacts one life, if you see life changes happening around you in those God has placed near you, congratulations I celebrate your “thunderin” phase with you.

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Stephen Bishop Interim Leader of Life Groups