The little plant which Bob bought for his sermon illustration really started to grow come the summer of 2010. Seeing it dormant over the winter, come back to life in the spring, and put on a big growth spurt in the summer, was a metaphor for the our journey to Japan. The hard beginning, then the little signs of growth and then better times. Just like with this plant however the autumn (fall) comes and things die out again, so we have to be prepared for that.
The plant also helps me to think about a verse: "I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase." 1 Corinthians 3:6-7 (King James Bible)
Indeed we water, fertilise (feed), and prune (correct), but only God makes the growth. When you have you eyes fixed on God everything becomes a spiritual lesson even a little plant.
Note 29/11/2011: Had a lot of things happen up here recently, both good and bad. With the blessings also come persecutions. Hopefully I'll get time for a few more PBLOGs and updates to other galleries over the next week or so, before the Christmas rush hits me.