May of 2022 was an eventful month for me. My wife was eight months pregnant, we moved into a new apartment, celebrated our first wedding anniversary, my wife’s birthday, Mother’s Day, and many other moments. You can imagine how exciting and stressful this time was, especially being so close to meeting our very first child. Prior to the move, my wife and I were living in a studio apartment where we barely had enough room for ourselves plus pets, let alone a baby. We went from that studio, to a two bedroom and two bathroom apartment. It was quite relieving to know that not only would we have so much more room, but that the baby would even have her own space. One thing that my wife and I also looked forward to when we moved was that we now had all this room (and lighting) to incorporate plants into our home. 

This was a hobby that, prior to this, I had no experience and would have never thought that I would get into it the way that I have since then. What I especially didn’t anticipate was just how much I would learn not just about the plants, but from them. 

As the end of 2022 was approaching, I was trying to learn more about dormancy to better navigate winter with my plants and avoid getting worried when I see unusual behavior. What I learned immediately started to not only transform how I approached my plants, but how I would think about my spiritual journey.

At its most basic level, dormancy in plants is triggered by seasons. During winter, plants go dormant because it is a dangerous time for them. They switch into this state to protect themselves, realizing that investing energy in new foliage would be futile when the harsh conditions could cause leaf loss. Consequently, you won’t observe visible growth, and in some cases, leaves may even shed.

Contrary to its name, I started to realize that dormancy is actually quite an active process for plants. It involves a shift from outward growth to inward growth. During this period, plants focus on developing their root systems and improving their internal transport systems, which help thicken stems and facilitate the movement of water and nutrients. All these preparations set the stage for explosive growth when the growing season arrives . . . spring.

Interestingly, some people attempt to “hack” plants’ natural processes by using grow lights, indoor thermostats, and humidifiers. While this approach can produce year-round growth, experienced professionals like Swedish Plant Guys (a YouTube channel I follow due to their 20+ years of experience with houseplants) argue that it ultimately weakens the plant. By bypassing dormancy, the plant misses out on critical root system and internal development. Thus, it is recommended that even if a plant has undergone this process in the nursery, when you receive it, allow it to follow its natural cycle. This will ensure robust and healthy growth.

Now, I’m sure as you read through this information you’re seeing the spiritual applications and even having some “aha moments.” After all, so many of the visuals and parables we get through scripture revolve around plants and nature. 

One example that comes to mind is the church. It is essential to reflect on whether our churches are constantly under “grow lights” or if we allow them to go through natural cycles and seasons of dormancy. Dormancy doesn’t mean “no growth,” but rather a shift from outward to internal growth and vice versa. This applies both to the church as an organization (pastors, leaders, ministries, programs, services, etc.) and to church members. We often witness new Christians getting enthusiastic but eventually losing interest because they were exposed to a “grow light nursery” approach instead of experiencing seasons of dormancy where they can focus on internal growth, such as deepening their roots. Are we providing opportunities for “old” Christians and church leaders to have their seasons of dormancy as well? These periods of dormancy can help them strengthen their foundations and work on their internal growth, ultimately leading to stronger outward growth in subsequent seasons.

In essence, the lesson of dormancy in plants offers valuable insights into the importance of Sabbath and provides a helpful framework for approaching personal growth and development, courtesy of nature and our Creator.

I’d love to leave you with a question here… What do the practical applications of dormancy look like both in your life and in your church?

I hope this encourages you to self-reflect, to have this conversation over coffee, and to be more sensitive to the parables that the plants around us are sharing.