Lessons from the Flower Field

Amid the rigor and garden upkeep, from the moment I place the first small seed into a sea of dirt and begin the operation of tending and watering, I am participating in a miracle — the act of putting seeds in dirt and then watching life come rise out of the dirt. And not life only, but life upon life. The process of co-creation, one miracle at a time, does not cease. The fruits of the earth keep on giving generously and extravagantly. It is no wonder Jesus anchored so many of his teachings about God in the ways of nature. Being a participant in the miracle of the garden is healing to the soul and grounding because, for this bounty to grow and thrive, it must be tended. Tending a garden takes you outside of yourself because if it is not tended, it will die. You will lose the miracle. If you tend it, it gives extravagantly. Sometimes ruined soil must be torn up before true growth can happen. But — another miracle! — once torn up, even the most stubborn earth can be coaxed into vibrancy and sustainability.