I enjoy gardening. I am not particularly good, but I enjoy it. I enjoy being outside and seeing the changing seasons.
Last year I made the mistake of piling up leaves from the dogwood trees, then leaving them on a patch of grass. Needless to say, the grass did not survive. So this spring, after some trees had been removed in the back garden, I prepared the ground and laid the seed. I watered it and grass grew. However, as the trees had been removed, the sun scorched the grass and the rabbits ate the young shoots. So, my first attempt at re-seeding failed.
In the meantime, I was given a book about gardening in Missouri. I learnt that re-seeding in September was better as the ground would be warmer. I was also given advice that I should cover the seed with straw and keep it moist for two weeks. So a few weeks ago I prepared the soil and cast the seeds, covered the seeds with straw and kept the ground moist for two weeks and the results are encouraging. I will just have to see how it holds up to the winter.
I see parallels between gardening and our walk with Jesus, especially with our prayer life. In gardening, sometimes the conditions are not right and they need to be changed. Perhaps an inappropriate plant is brought in that overwhelms others. In our prayer life there may be practices that need to be pruned out so that the beauty of the relationship with Jesus can flourish. In both gardening and prayer, we may need to seek advice from others who are wiser.
Gardening has also taught me to be more thankful in the little things. I am always struck by the beauty of God’s creation that unexpectedly appears. Back in the UK I always smiled when a robin would join me while I was digging.
What can you bring before God today in thanksgiving?
One of my daily prayers is giving thanks for signs of the Holy Spirit at work in the community of The Church of St Michael and St George. Also, in this time as we are looking at our shared stewardship, I am most grateful for the gifts that enable the ministry of this Church.
God Bless
Tom +
