It's always hard for me to get myself out there, but once I'm outside I can't ever come back in! Tonight is a beautiful night: gorgeous sunset, crisp spring air, birds chirping. I planted some containers for the porch and the deck, which should really beautify those areas. Because of the moist ground from recent rain, I was able to dig up some deep-rooted weeds and prep it for the mulching I hope to do by Easter. There's always work to do, but also something deeply satisfying about spending time in the garden.
I often think that gardening bears some resemblance to the spiritual life. To me, the garden itself represents the soul, and the work we do in the garden is analogous to the work we do in our spiritual life. I love that I can cultivate flowers in my garden, just as I can cultivate virtues in my soul. I love that sometimes flowers I didn't plant (or forgot I planted) spring up to my delightful surprise, and I love discovering qualities about myself, planted by the Lord but previously hidden from me, appearing in my soul. Tonight I dug up some stubborn weeds, after trying time and again in previous weeks without success. This Lenten season I've been working on some stubborn weeds in my soul that I've been trying for quite some time to uproot, but previously without success. I hope that the garden of my soul will be more beautiful for the work I've done this Lent.
A few years ago, I read the children's classic "The Secret Garden." In this story, orphaned Mary arrives at her uncle's home in England as a bratty, miserable, unloved child. By working in a secret garden that she discovers, she blossoms into a thoughtful, happy, lovable young girl. She finds that she comes to life as her garden comes to life. To me, gardening does just that.
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