Truth's found in the garden

I have spent a good portion of the last two days “tending the garden” as a British friend would say.  Truthful translation:  a good portion of the last two days has been spent cleaning, pruning, weeding, recovering and tending to the entire yard which was left to languish the past month and a half due to neglect.  In my defense there has been little time between family events, taking Kid1 to college, the start of school schedules, sports schedules, youth meeting, parent council, etc (please feel free to add to my list of excuses).

As I worked I found quite a few spiritual life parallels and truths:

-There are so many weeds and pests that can invade the garden – choking, sapping, stunting, killing growth – if we are not attentive in care.

-Weeds are sneaky – they slink in, grow quickly and spread even more quickly; it’s easier to catch them as you regularly weed rather than deal with the overwhelming bunches that have taken root.

-Sometimes the garden needs to be pruned, cut back, in order to bring forth optimum growth and fruitfulness.

-There is a proper time for everything; a time to plant, a time to nurture, a time for pruning, a time to reap and a time to leave fallow.

-If a plant has strong deep roots, it can withstand the dry season.

-The gardener will harvest what is planted – he can’t expect anything else.

-The yard work – “gardening” – is a lot easier when it is a collaborative effort (people working together, sharing the burden, encouraging one another, sharing knowledge and experiencing together the joy of the harvest).

-Just as we need to take time to tend; we also need to take time to enjoy the beauty and produce of the garden.

I know I had other insights but these are a few that stuck with me.  Stand still for a minute in your “garden”.  Share what you find.  I’d love you to be part of my collaborative “garden” crew.

My prayer today is for those gardening – may you find your field ripe and a harvest waiting.

John 4:36   Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.

Galatians 6:9   Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

James 3:18   Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.