Gardening is Godly Work

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Today’s reading: Genesis 2:4-8, 15

God’s timing is always interesting. Today’s reading brings to mind the very project to which I am planning to devote this day.

I have a friend who promotes gardening as, more or less, a lifestyle. She has helped many families across our city bring life to their back yards with citrus trees, tomato plants, potatoes, watermelon and many other fruit-bearing wonders. She supports her students thoroughly from soil-preparation to harvest. And many Saturdays she can be found at the Corpus Christi Farmer’s Market offering for sale what she and her friends have grown but cannot use. She uses the money from these sales to help fund even more gardens across the city.

The land behind my father’s house and my own home will soon be part of this friend’s little network of gardens. I’m getting started this morning. Today’s goal: till both yards thoroughly.

Dad and I are preparing for some friends to soon move in to both homes. Our intention is that the gardens will eventually supply a good amount of the food entire group. Then, of course, we’ll offer any left-overs to our teacher-friend for sale.

Being novices at gardening, all of us involved with these new gardens realize that this is an ambitious project. Only God knows how successful we’ll be. Yet we are excited to get started.

I suppose there is nothing wrong with going down to the supermarket near my house to buy my lettuce, tomatoes, peaches and oranges. But I always notice a small, nagging discomfort when I do. Today’s reading helps explain that feeling:

“The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it.” (Verse 15)

These blessed gardens that my friends and I will be tilling today will be much more than a source of recreation and (potentially) food. They will be a means for all of us to stay connected to God. Thanks be to Him for that.