A parallel on the spread of the Gospel.

Jesus says, “Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow…" (Matt 6:28).

Dandelions, shining in the sun, gloriously golden yet silently set on their mission to multiply. After just a few days of flowering, they close up their petals and seeds form inside their bullet-shaped heads (click here for a wonderful short clip of the dandelion’s lifecycle).

Some are very visible while others, well camouflaged, lie low in the grass or lean on leaves around them. All the while they are preparing persistently for their invasion, ready to populate the landscape prolifically.

The spherical seed heads appear, cunningly crafted with tiny, mature seeds clustered around the centre, each equipped with a perfect parachute - ready for the slightest breath of a breeze to lift them aloft. Drifting dreamily, yet dangling determinedly their deft little depth charges, the seeds are destined to drop into the unsuspecting soil, rapidly reproduce and quickly conquer their new territory.

Love them or loathe them, colonisation has begun! Gardeners growl at them, farmers fling finance at them - billions and billions are spent on herbicides - but the war on dandelions is unwinnable!

Unstoppable Seed Factories

Out in the garden, one dandelion is hardly remarkable - what difference can just one make? But consider: how many dandelions would it take to cover an entire garden? Just one - with a little time and the occasional help of a fascinated child who can't wait to puff on it! Just one seed head can produce 50-170 seeds. Just one plant can produce 2,000 seeds in a year and 20,000 in its lifetime! Dandelions are unstoppable seed factories.

The only way to interrupt their efficiency is to dig deep and uproot the whole plant. 'Off with its head!' won't do as another will appear. And removing the flowers before the seeds form is no quick fix either - dispersal can still take place as the seeds can develop entirely separately from the plant (as this one, found on the ground and abandoned on the banister; such a work of art!).

The Dandelion Effect

These marvels of God's Creation surely have a message for us: just as art reflects the character of an artist, Creation reflects the character of the Creator. Jesus often used His Creation as a parable to explain the Kingdom of God, employing such everyday things as a mustard seed, yeast, wheat, weeds - and flowers – to teach important lessons.

Consider, then, the ‘Dandelion Effect’: a living seed of faith in Christ is sown in the soil of a hungry heart. It anchors itself by growing a deep root - a foundation of reading and studying God's word, and communicating with Him through prayer. The delight of being found by God and a whole new life of belonging to Him can emanate in an irresistible shining - a blossoming from within. And even though faith may be brand new, its seeds are rapidly ready to share. The wind of the Holy Spirit takes them wherever He wills, to whoever is ready to receive Him.

Dandelions can grow just about anywhere, whatever the soil conditions. So also the Gospel of Christ can flourish in the most unlikely and difficult of places. It cannot be thwarted, multiplying marvellously even where efforts are made to stamp it out, as in many nations today, especially in the east.

Just one plant…2,000 seeds a year…20,000 in its lifetime…

Jesus said, "I will build My church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it" (Matt 16:18).

Author: Sally Bolton