There is an unofficial, but very competitive race where I live in western Pennsylvania. For home gardeners, it is the race for the first home-grown ripe tomato. The goal is to have your first ripe tomato by July 4th and, of course, bragging rights with all the other neighbors. The first person to harvest that beauty is sure to post a picture on social media and expound on the loveliness of that first ripe tomato.

Many of us will do what we can to have the early tomato. We might gauge the weather and decide to risk it and plant early. We have different tricks to warm up the plant in the late spring and early summer to encourage it to grow more quickly. Varieties like “Early Girl” and “July Fourth” are planted, all promising to be early in production.

I do have to say that most years, in fact, almost every year, the ripe tomato by the Fourth of July is not to be. Most years, the tomatoes don’t begin to ripen until late July. Yet, when the time comes, it is typically a bumper crop of ripe tomatoes.

I wonder if this is a chance for us to learn and grow as the church. I wonder if the first ripe tomato is a lesson for us individually as well. I wonder if in our fast-paced culture, with orders to our door the next day, grocery shopping from our homes, and messages that come in both day and night that pushes us to respond immediately; I wonder if there is there a place for community, congregation, and church in the midst of an ” I want it now” society? A place and people that do not push but hold fast to the promise that abundance will come in due season.

No matter the speed, desire, or want, in due season, when the time is right, God comes. I wonder if the church can model a different way that allows for breath and rest, a time for silence and prayer, and a time for worship and music. That we model a non-anxious presence that is counter to a world where we have to respond right now, everything is a crisis mentality. I wonder if we can pass on to our communities and those who connect with us in worship and the myriad of other ways that expectant waiting, loving presence and thoughtfulness of action and reply are important.

The disciples were told to wait in Jerusalem after Christ’s ascension. In time, the promised advocate would come. So they waited and worshiped and ministered — until the Holy Spirit arrived, in God’s time.

We are called into the ministry of Jesus Christ, but we cannot make God speed up or slow down the time and timing. We might be impatient, we might ask when, like the Psalmist, “How long O Lord, how long?” or like those in exile in Babylon who wanted to return immediately, but were told by the prophet Jeremiah, “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare” (Jeremiah 29:4-7 NRSV).

In God’s time, God’s action and presence will be made known.

In time, the tomato harvest comes. Soon home gardeners in western Pennsylvania and other areas will be enjoying the delights of a tomato fresh from the garden. In time, the harvest comes for the church as well. In God’s time. Until then, we tend, we water, we breathe, we worship, we sing, we pray, we expectantly wait, knowing that we are the beloved of God. May the blessings of God who comes in God’s time be with you.

May you enjoy the first ripe tomato — I will be having mine on some toasted white bread with mayonnaise and a little salt and pepper.