In my last blog I spoke about my interest in ‘All things Woolly’. Another thing that gives me great pleasure is the garden, not so much sitting in it but working in it.
This year’s weather has really encouraged abundant growth in the plant kingdom. Over the last three days, David and I have been busy cutting back the hedges in my mother’s garden in Cheshire, pictured above.
When my three children were small I used to have an allotment on which I grew a variety of vegetables, with varying degrees of success.
My allotment was sandwiched between two other allotments each tended by expert gardeners, one of whom regularly won prizes in the Southport flower show.
Both men took pity on this young, amateur, female gardener, giving advice and encouragement, enabling me to grow in knowledge and expertise.
The problem was that they each had a different method of gardening and each was convinced that his method was the right one. On my left, the gardener believed in using his ground to the full, as soon as one crop had finished he planted another. On my right, the gardener would leave the land fallow for a while before replanting. Each gardener would criticize the other convinced that their way was right.
Ironically, both men succeeded in producing good yields. Despite their different methods of gardening, the end result of their work really depended on how their crops had been fed and nurtured during their growth. Maybe there’s an interesting analogy here.
In our individual churches we may have different styles of worship, different ways of doing things and it’s useful to share ideas of good practice. However, it is feeding on the Word of God and nurturing each other, as we grow in faith, which lead to growth in God’s Kingdom.
‘ — so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.’ Isaiah 55:11
Blessings, Sandra
