September 7,2010
This year I was determined to have a garden. With the help of a friend, I have a 4’ x10’ raised bed garden. It is measured off in square foot units making the planting process easier. I was a little late putting some things in, but over all have loved watching things grow and blossom and begin the bearing the harvest. While growing up my family always had a small garden, which taught me how good tomatoes and berries taste in their season. Even in my garden, with my late start, I have learned that not everything will grow well out of its particular season.
It is true, as the writer of Ecclesiastes has said, “to everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven.” We know the season for tomatoes and corn, of apples and pumpkins. But it is harder to discern the seasons of our own life. When is our growing season, our blossoming season, our time for bearing fruit, our harvest? More often than not we expect to be always producing, even when we have not taken time to prepare our soil, to plant the seeds of a potential harvest within. And then we wonder- why am I not finding joy in this task? Why do I not seem to be able to be fully present for my spouse or friend?
We do have seasons in our living, just as the earth has its seasons. We are part of that created order and are meant to find our rhythm of planting, growing, blossoming, bearing and harvest. Without anyone one of these, there will be nothing coming forth, nothing to offer another.
Soon enough, it will be time to clear out this year’s garden, and prepare it for the winter rest- yet another important season, if my next garden is to provide its natural abundance. We too need those seasons of rest, those times to renew ourselves, if we can be ready for the next season of growth and abundance.
Walking in faith,
Pastor Kathy