On a walk during our holiday, I suddenly saw what looked like a huge mushroom by the side of the path. And sure enough this was the case. It just so happened that the caretaker of our local church and his wife were nearby collecting mushrooms. They phoned and asked if we could have a coffee together. We invited them to our holiday place to have a meal of mushrooms together.

This caretaker is a specialist in mushrooms. He was overjoyed with my find. It was a special kind of champignon; very tasty and in the best condition. It weighed 680 grams. He said, “You should be proud and grateful. This is almost a one-off find. Don’t expect it to find another one soon.”

What I learned

What we see and identify as a mushroom is a very small part of what is a vast underground mushroom network. Most of the mushroom stays under the earth and spreads out enormously.

I was not consciously looking for a mushroom but I kind of stumbled over it. There were no other mushrooms around it when we found it and when we went back two days later we found no more.­­­

Many mushrooms grow very fast, as if they develop underground and suddenly pop up. They also don’t last very long, are very susceptible to worms and insects, and they usually rot away very quickly.

When you find mushrooms, you can often find certain conditions which are fulfilled. But just because the conditions are right does not guarantee that mushrooms will grow. For instance, one can often see blotches of green grass on a meadow. Mushrooms get oxygen from other plants and in return provide minerals which boost the growth of those plants. You might find mushrooms there, but they also might just stay underground.

Parallels

When it comes to church work or the work of the Evangelical Alliance, we often do not see much fruit. That does not mean there is nothing there. We are asked to keep working faithfully and concentrate on what God has put before us staying close to his heart.

Sometimes we stumble over something unexpectedly. We should expect it and be thankful, but we should not concentrate on it.

Something might grow up very fast and surprise us. At that point we need to take the opportunity and run a risk. Most of the time we can work for it but not plan it. So, let’s not miss such opportunities.

Our work is fragile. We are not asked to conserve it but to just trust God and joyfully go about today’s work. The future is in HIS hands.

Methods are good to note. And it is good to work according to good practice. But lasting fruit and results are always a gift.

And we are dependent on others. So are others on us. We cannot do it on our own. Unity in diversity is our lot and goal.

So, let’s move forward with great expectations. Let’s faithfully work, unlocking these expectations as best as we can. And yet look to God to provide.

Thomas Bucher

General Secretary EEA