GOD, THE MASTER GARDENER
I have always dreamt of having my own herb garden, but I have been kept from starting one simply because I had no idea if I had a “green thumb”. What if they do not grow? What if I “kill” the plants unintentionally? What if I get frustrated and impatient with them? So many discouraging what ifs, that I ended up shoving the vision under the carpet. Anyhow, I had no place to begin with. Our house had cement and concrete all around. How will I even start one with no actual garden soil to plant the seeds into? But then, urban gardening became a thing especially at the height of the pandemic. People had to come up with clever and creative ways of planting and producing their own food. But, despite the many encouraging examples, I still had qualms. My reservations were not because of the availability of resources, because there were tons of suppliers springing here and there –soil, pots, seeds, fertilizers, tools, etc.—name it, all are available online and can be delivered in the comfort of your home. My apprehensions had a lot to do something else. I did not have the guts to begin something I knew I could not sustain. However, things took a turn. One day, I found myself gazing at a white-painted metal grill left over from a gate construction sitting in front of our house. I started envisioning a vertical garden. With my phone on hand and my Shopee app open, you know what transpired after. The next thing I knew, I was eagerly awaiting seeds, pots, tools, and soil to be delivered.
The thing that gave me courage to finally begin my urban garden was not the fact that I believed I had a green thumb. I realized that God is the Master Gardener. He made plants, seeds, soil, and water. Those were His creation. What am I so hung up about when my job was just to sow, plant, tend and water? Ultimately, He will be the one to cause growth if He wills it. I am but a steward/ manager of these resources and to be so, means I must be diligent in tending what was entrusted to me.
Another thing which was of greater importance in starting this gardening journey was the realization of God’s purpose and intentionality. God’s hand was all over as He weaved things together like He always does. See, of all times to be starting a garden, it just had to coincide with the beginning of a new season in my pilgrimage—training to become a Discipler Life Coach for Glorious Hope. In the same way I had apprehensions with gardening, I had similar dreads being called to this new daunting task. What if I fail? What if I let God down with this new assignment? What if I make a mess of people’s lives?
I prayed and prayed some more. What was His purpose for calling me to both ministry, gardening, and life-coaching? His answer came through a revelation, that I was being ushered into a new season in my spiritual journey and what better way to start the learning than through gardening lessons. The first, to begin with humility, acknowledging my full dependence in Him. Apart from Him I am nothing, I cannot do anything. Second, that a new season means there will be pruning I must brace myself, prepare for the heartache over dead seeds, shriveling stems, drying leaves, dead plants. For a plant to flourish, thrive and bear fruit, they are pruned so it can bear fruit, not just more fruit but much fruit. As, I will surely be many times. The third lesson in gardening was understanding what it was in the simplest way—patiently tending plants. It is hard work but a fulfilling one as many plantita friends claim. Gardening was ushering me into the work God called me to do in this season, that is soul-tending. As a steward, I am to recognize my role and responsibility in being God’s steward, the one called to tend to His creation, both plants and (wo)men. And in His intentionality, He provided ways for my journey. I had the blessing and support of my husband and children in my new passion project, I was provided with free materials and resources and I was placed in fellowship with old gardeners who patiently guided me and taught me tips and encouragements.
I am excited for the garden I am building for the Lord. The garden I am building will be a place where He will speak to me about, make me understand and exercise an important virtue in soul-tending—patience. It is a sanctuary where I will meet with Him daily to be taught about tilling, cultivating, watering, and waiting for growth. Something that my disciplers, mentors and GH Life Coaches did for me through the years. It is where I will tarry morning after morning, waiting to hear His voice as I listen with eagerness to His whispers of instruction, a place where I can have a deep communion with God as I help His creation flourish. Today, I have confidence than when I had before I began both journeys. Not in my capabilities or my green thumb but in the Master Gardener who will bless the work of my hand as I commit every seed and plant I will raise, every person He will bring to Glorious Hope whom I will serve.
Indulge me as I chronicle my learnings from my gardening journey.
In the morning, O Lord, You will hear my voice; In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch. ~ Psalm 5:3
Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it. ~ Genesis 2:15
I have always dreamt of having my own herb garden, but I have been kept from starting one simply because I had no idea if I had a “green thumb”. What if they do not grow? What if I “kill” the plants unintentionally? What if I get frustrated and impatient with them? So many discouraging what ifs, that I ended up shoving the vision under the carpet. Anyhow, I had no place to begin with. Our house had cement and concrete all around. How will I even start one with no actual garden soil to plant the seeds into? But then, urban gardening became a thing especially at the height of the pandemic. People had to come up with clever and creative ways of planting and producing their own food. But, despite the many encouraging examples, I still had qualms. My reservations were not because of the availability of resources, because there were tons of suppliers springing here and there –soil, pots, seeds, fertilizers, tools, etc.—name it, all are available online and can be delivered in the comfort of your home. My apprehensions had a lot to do something else. I did not have the guts to begin something I knew I could not sustain. However, things took a turn. One day, I found myself gazing at a white-painted metal grill left over from a gate construction sitting in front of our house. I started envisioning a vertical garden. With my phone on hand and my Shopee app open, you know what transpired after. The next thing I knew, I was eagerly awaiting seeds, pots, tools, and soil to be delivered.
The thing that gave me courage to finally begin my urban garden was not the fact that I believed I had a green thumb. I realized that God is the Master Gardener. He made plants, seeds, soil, and water. Those were His creation. What am I so hung up about when my job was just to sow, plant, tend and water? Ultimately, He will be the one to cause growth if He wills it. I am but a steward/ manager of these resources and to be so, means I must be diligent in tending what was entrusted to me.
Another thing which was of greater importance in starting this gardening journey was the realization of God’s purpose and intentionality. God’s hand was all over as He weaved things together like He always does. See, of all times to be starting a garden, it just had to coincide with the beginning of a new season in my pilgrimage—training to become a Discipler Life Coach for Glorious Hope. In the same way I had apprehensions with gardening, I had similar dreads being called to this new daunting task. What if I fail? What if I let God down with this new assignment? What if I make a mess of people’s lives?
I prayed and prayed some more. What was His purpose for calling me to both ministry, gardening, and life-coaching? His answer came through a revelation, that I was being ushered into a new season in my spiritual journey and what better way to start the learning than through gardening lessons. The first, to begin with humility, acknowledging my full dependence in Him. Apart from Him I am nothing, I cannot do anything. Second, that a new season means there will be pruning I must brace myself, prepare for the heartache over dead seeds, shriveling stems, drying leaves, dead plants. For a plant to flourish, thrive and bear fruit, they are pruned so it can bear fruit, not just more fruit but much fruit. As, I will surely be many times. The third lesson in gardening was understanding what it was in the simplest way—patiently tending plants. It is hard work but a fulfilling one as many plantita friends claim. Gardening was ushering me into the work God called me to do in this season, that is soul-tending. As a steward, I am to recognize my role and responsibility in being God’s steward, the one called to tend to His creation, both plants and (wo)men. And in His intentionality, He provided ways for my journey. I had the blessing and support of my husband and children in my new passion project, I was provided with free materials and resources and I was placed in fellowship with old gardeners who patiently guided me and taught me tips and encouragements.
I am excited for the garden I am building for the Lord. The garden I am building will be a place where He will speak to me about, make me understand and exercise an important virtue in soul-tending—patience. It is a sanctuary where I will meet with Him daily to be taught about tilling, cultivating, watering, and waiting for growth. Something that my disciplers, mentors and GH Life Coaches did for me through the years. It is where I will tarry morning after morning, waiting to hear His voice as I listen with eagerness to His whispers of instruction, a place where I can have a deep communion with God as I help His creation flourish. Today, I have confidence than when I had before I began both journeys. Not in my capabilities or my green thumb but in the Master Gardener who will bless the work of my hand as I commit every seed and plant I will raise, every person He will bring to Glorious Hope whom I will serve.
Indulge me as I chronicle my learnings from my gardening journey.
In the morning, O Lord, You will hear my voice; In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch. ~ Psalm 5:3
Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it. ~ Genesis 2:15