Papaya Halves

Genesis 1:11: "Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit after their kind, with seed in them."

Seeds and the concept of seeds fascinate me. I come from a family of sugarcane farmers in the Philippines, so it might be in my blood. But even here stateside, I maintain a garden and save the seeds, not wanting to waste their locked-up potential.

Botanically speaking, fruit is the womb which shelters and carries seeds, allowing for the continuation of the species—God’s plan as revealed in Genesis 1:11. In Luke 8:11, Jesus tells a parable of the sower. In explaining it to his disciples, he says, “…the seed is the Word of God” because both are living, breathing entities which can determine one’s life.

In the painting above, a halved papaya presents a sumptuous visual homage to God’s ingenious provision to mankind.