Tending to the Garden of our Souls
The Rhythms of Gardening
If you have ever planted a garden, you know it involves intentional, nurturing rhythms of preparing the ground, planting seeds, watering, fertilizing, weeding, controlling pests, pruning, and much more. One must work to do their part to nurture an environment that fosters health and growth and then must watch and wait. The reality is that there are no instant gardens. Gardens require continual care and patience.
Moreover, as much as we can plan for the kind of garden we want, the ultimate results and fine details are ultimately out of our control. We can’t dictate the exact branch on which a rose will grow or the exact number of roses that will bloom. We can’t prevent an unexpected windstorm from knocking over flowers we have lovingly planted. And we can’t totally prevent weeds from sneaking into our garden, although we can be ready to pull them out when they show up. Thus, there is always an element of surprise when we are gardening, and we have to learn to approach the process with attentiveness and a degree of open-handedness.
The Rhythms of Discipleship
Gardening is a beautiful and rewarding endeavor, and I love thinking about all that goes into the gardening process. I also believe it is a great metaphor for discipleship. Just as we must work, watch, and wait for a garden to grow, we must work, watch, and wait for the the Fruit of the Spirit to grow within us and form us into the likeness and Way of Jesus.
Discipleship requires intentional rhythms of nurture and care, attentiveness, patience, and openhandedness. There is no instant experience of being a fully mature disciple of Christ. Nor, can we achieve spiritual maturity on our own. Spiritual maturity is the work of the Holy Spirit that only comes as we rest in God’s great love for us, notice God’s work in our lives, and cooperate with God. But when we do cooperate with God, we slowly but surely, grow “healthy spiritual roots, branches, leaves, and fruit”
With this all in mind, this Website is structured around the following ideas: four keystone rhythms or nutrients of discipleship that bring nourishment; four spiritual fertilizers per rhythm — habits and postures of faith that help us follow Jesus; four environmental conditions in our hearts, homes, and churches that are favorable to growth and resiliency; various weeds of culture that choke out our life with Jesus, and a spiritual trellis to order our lives.