How Does Your Garden Grow?

 

"I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, 

but God has been making it grow. 

So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything,

 but only God, 

who makes things grow.  

The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, 

and they will each be rewarded according to their own labour. 

For we are co-workers in God's service, 

you are God's field, God's building." 

1 Corinthians 3:6-8

I'm all about the garden again today.  Which is interesting since I don't really have one.  And I don't even really call myself a gardener, not at all.  Except something is gradually starting to take shape in a few little spaces around the house, and so I guess that counts for something.

Remember, this is our first spring/summer season on this property.  Plus, the construction itself fairly decimated whatever else was in the backyard.  Mostly we're dealing with a bare sandy base on which various organic and inorganic 'stuff' is piled, a lot of it sorted, but not entirely.

Before

That's a bigger job, best left for the landscapers we've connected with who listened to our ideas and drawn out a map that will guide us over the next few years.  First stage work is happening soon, and I can hardly wait.

Meanwhile, I'm just putzing around on our front porch.  And also just this one section of the back fence that I see out my bedroom window.  That's the 'before' picture above.

With the huge help of some flowers I received for Mother's Day, and a bit more added under the creative guidance of my art-inclined, colour-and-placement-wise granddaughter Abby, something is actually happening back here.

After

The non-flowering pieces are an eclectic gathering of what was already lying around in one of the various piles mentioned earlier, and garden accents from the other house.  It still needs a birdhouse or two, I think.  And likely something written, maybe the English and Thai words for Garden, a suggestion I'm seriously considering, especially since in Thai the words for "garden" and "heaven" are so similar.

But what I'm also thoroughly delighted by, in my "I'm not a gardener" garden, is the other spring offerings that are coming up in spite of themselves.  Or rather, in spite of me.

They're everywhere, valiantly rising up out of the construction carnage, doing their thing whether anyone sees them or not.  And I so admire them for that.

 

And here's the thing.  I am all about intentionality and taking agency and being responsible for my own growth.  Especially spiritual formation.  That's really important to me.  But I am also keenly aware, and my not-really-a-garden=yet reminds me, that regardless of what I do or don't do, I'm not the one making it happen.

Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthian church, made sure to give a fellow-teacher all the credit deserved.  He recognized his own part in the formation of the folks there (and elsewhere he served as a spiritual leader).  But there was no question Who was in charge.  

And it only makes sense.  Because what needs to be formed in me is not humanly possible to accomplish.  What still wrestles in the deeper places of self and ego is beyond my agency to deliver me from.  It needs the Divine components of grace and redemption and love-like-no-other.  It needs the touch of God, and His longsuffering patience with me, His power working in me.

Looks like we have a beauty day ahead of us.  Maybe a few more storms over the weekend.  I am so looking forward to doing some more putzing outside.  If I find any more little surprises in any little shady, hidden spaces, I'll take some pictures, don't worry.

Happy growing, whatever you're working on!!

And Happy Long Weekend!!