LIFE IS A GARDEN

TODAY: Celebrate the first day of spring, and remember these words by John Calvin: "There is no blade of grass, there is no colour in this world that is not intended to make us rejoice." Make a list of things you most enjoy doing. Pick out the one or two that you haven't done for the longest time and take the trouble to do them.

The outdoor world has always been a source of joy for me. In fact, I have experienced many profound spiritual moments in natural settings. To bring this idea into sharper focus, let's talk about my garden. Every year, I look forward to the arrival of spring with great delight. As the air and soil warm up, I know it's time to prepare for new life. I browse through seed catalogs and make choices. Then I sketch out a plan that shows how I want to arrange the vegetables and flowers I have so carefully selected. I buy compost and mix it with the earth in my garden plot. While shoveling, hoeing, raking and taking in big gulps of fresh air, I sense God's presence. It's amazing that this task often leads me to spontaneous prayer. Is it theanticipation of the fruits of my labor? Or, is it the way my body and soul are invested in this new beginning?

Next comes the planting: creating straight rows, placing seeds in tiny furrows and gently covering up all these "promises" of new life. Of course, generous watering is a must. Funny, but that step always reminds me of baptism. Again, I find myself in prayer as I lovingly bless what I have sown. And yet, I know that not all these seeds will germinate. Among those shoots that do make it, there will be some that do not survive. Some of the seedlings will be weak or spindly, and others will succumb to encroaching garden pests. As my garden grows, I am vigilant, doing my best to care for these living things during their development. But this yearly ritual has also taught me to accept the reality that not all the plants will thrive.

Tending to my garden is a daily devotional. Yes, I must be observant and patient. After several weeks, I drink in the sweet pleasure of watching those first beautiful blossoms become seed-bearing fruit. Soon, I take my basket and gather these miracles of creation, savoring the mouth-watering tastes of fresh produce for the duration of this season. Without fail, daily prayer becomes a natural part of this splendor, as does sharing the vegetables among friends and neighbors.

Then Fall arrives with cooler temperatures and less sunshine. The harvest draws to a close, and I witness a transformation in my garden. These wonderfully productive plants stop growing, slowly wither, and eventually die. But I know that each plant has provided for its own future, making new seeds that hold the promise for continuation of life.

I have discovered a magical secret. Life is a garden. Listen closely, and you will begin to understand the rhythm of life and the pulse of God's love.

— Melissa King

Courtesy of The Church of the Good Shepherd United Methodist