Some years ago, my neighbor gave me a cutting from her mother-in-law’s tree. It was a plumeria branch, a piece of a beautiful Hawaiian plant that produces the flowers from which leis are made.

I stuck it in the ground and forgot about it. It sat quietly, for years.

One day I pulled it up to find a tiny root attached. I replanted it and left it where it would get misted from my sprinklers. It sat still for another few years. Then this past winter, in hopes that it would eventually grow, I tossed old tea leaves in the soil around it.

When spring came, it sprouted leaves, buds grew and dainty blooms emerged. It WAS alive!

Faith is one of those seemingly invisible things, like a quiet plumeria cutting. The roots of faith are growing throughout our life. They grow as we soak in the sunshine moments, when we count our blessings, remember our thank yous, worship with grateful hearts, and encourage others. They grow as we endure the thunder storms, as we keep trusting, as we seek God’s words for us, as we fervently pray and rest in hope.

Unlike Jesus’ disciples, our faith begins without confirming sight. But because of that, we get the joy of answered prayers, the blessing of expectation, and hope being fulfilled.