One is done, another has begun…

Spring is slowly giving way to summer around these parts! Rain has brought forth life in the neighbourhood, with colours popping everywhere. Recently-sown veggies are peeking up through the soil and the front planter is looking fine! The flowers we chose somehow survived the very rocky transition from happy greenhouse offerings to dishevelled transplants, and appear to be recovering well. What a relief!

Last week as I was kneeling in front of the rose bushes, pulling up as much quack grass as I could without shredding my forearms in the thorns, I kept thinking about how much I re-learn every single year from the simple act of gardening and maintaining a few plants here and there. The hard work of removing the things that choke out the growth, the time it takes to pay attention and provide what is needed for flourishing — these are the things I must slow down for. I can’t expect much if I don’t invest.

And yet, even when I do, there are no guarantees. Whether I like it or not, critters and weather and other unforeseen things have a hand in how the garden grows. Somehow, I think that if I just work hard and do the right things, I’ll have a wonderful, bountiful harvest! The truth is, there’s an element of letting go even in gardening, with a sense of trust that we will make the best of the things that come our way and respond accordingly to the ups and downs of the season.

So much in there, really. I’m praying that it won’t be lost on me — that I’ll truly heed the lessons and learn from the Master Gardener as I walk along this season I’m in.

Matthew 13:18-23 (NIV) — 

“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”