garden! I am here for it. I love it. Usually I am excited about my word except when the word is patience, then I was less enthused. Regardless, garden is on my mind for the year. God is the ultimate gardener. There is SOOO much that goes into having a good garden. Planting, weeding, pruning, watering, weeding some more, the weather, dealing with pests, nutrient levels, seed saving, and even more weeds that always need to be dealt with.
I've also been really trying to incorporate sabbath and rest into my life. God set up a plan for us to have weekly sabbath, and for us and the land to have a yearly sabbath every seven years. There's something to be said about the fact that we are not machines nor are the rest of God's creation. We and it were not made to keep going and going and going without a break. Thank you Lord!
When we do try to keep going, we deplete ourselves. We, like the plants, are sucking and using up the available nutrients until they run out and can no longer support the life we are trying to maintain.
Sabbath is like compost. It is like mixing in fresh new life and nutrients to the areas that have been depleted. It isn't an instant fix, but as compost continues to be mixed in and continues breaking down more nutrients become available. It's about balancing the mix of work and rest because both are necessary to keeping going and thriving. You can't have too much compost either or that will cause problems as well.
Part of being stewards of our bodies and creation is taking care of them for the long run. We want the land to continue to produce and be healthy long after we are gone; not to use it and move on when we have gotten our fill.
The cool thing is that I've seen the small sabbath Compost investments in my life add up over time to make bigger and healthier changes. I see myself becoming more patient. More compassionate and empathetic. Less selfish. I'm still very selfish mind you, just some baby steps happening.
Give it a try! Mix those nutrients back into your spirit.
