May 2008

So it is May and time to think about putting in your garden. For me, it brings back memories of long spring days planting row after row of bean (green and lima), peas, potatoes, lettuce, tomatoes, and cabbage, just to name a few. We had a huge garden growing up; some years I bet we had close to acre planted by the end of spring. Of course, you just don’t plant a garden; you begin by preparing the soil. My dad would plow, then disc the land over and over. He had a spring tooth harrow and a spike tooth harrow, that he would use in succession, breaking down the soil little by little until it was ready to receive the seeds. My dad would bring out the seeds and would carefully lay out the rows. Giving us the seeds, he would instruct us in planting technique. The seeds needed to be a certain distance apart, three seed of corn in every hole and when you plant the potatoes, make sure that an eye is pointing up. When the planting was done, the waiting began. We rooted hard for some crops to grow, (tomatoes, corn) and against others (lima beans, cabbage), but regardless, soon the plants would begin to slowly poke up through the hard clay soil. It was the miracle of life and I must admit that it never ceases to amaze me.

In telling the story, I have left out a very important element. It was an element invisible to my brothers and sisters or me, and yet without it the garden would have never materialized. Early in the spring, my dad would walk the fields and envision the garden. He would dream it and then he would make sure the tractor was ready to pull the plow. They say that Michelangelo could see a statue in a block of marble and then remove anything that did not look like his vision. My dad would see the garden in his mind and then work to remove the obstacles as he made it happen.

When I look at our church I am reminded of my dad walking the fields: fertile fields, great potential, much work ahead. We need to be praying for our church, asking God what ministries He envisions for us. God wants to give us His vision and then assist us as we work to make it happen. My challenge to you is this: Walk the aisles of our church and pray, asking God what we are to do with all this fertile soil. As we receive the vision, it is time to get to work. Springtime is short and as all you farmers know, timing is crucial. Every fall, back in Broadview Hgts, the produce would grace our table because we were faithful in the spring. God is calling us to that faithfulness now so that we might be blessed by His hand.