Why Garden

This past Lord’s Day I spoke about Creation Care (Gen 2:15) as a theme for Thanksgiving.
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A point that I raised, that I thought was worth pursuing a bit further, was of Adam as a gardener. Gardening was our first occupation; hence my love of gardening.  I like to think that when I garden I am being a little bit like Adam in his pre-Fall obedience. I love tending to my gardens. It is something that brings me great joy. Part of my love for gardening was instilled by my grandmother and her British-Christian heritage, for Britain is still known as a Garden (and once was known as “the garden of the Lord”). Pioneers and community residents right up to living memory (and still including some) used to be known for their gardens. Most farmsteads boasted a large array of perennials much as Mennonite farms do today (see the connection?).

As a generalization I would argue that gardening is good for the soul (and even if you can’t have a garden there are house or balcony plants, for example). When you compare the lives of those who have & don’t have gardens this point is generally borne out (i.e. The busy, self-focused, who have a want of creation connection and appreciation with no garden often does equal an astroturf-life).
Thinking to the Garden of Eden and to gardens generally, consider the following benefits of gardening:

1. We reflect God’s creativity.
2. We value beauty for beauty sake, something that glorifies Him.
3. We derive satisfaction from the fruits of our labours, seeing the end result of our work.
4. We rejoice in seeing life, as He is the author of life.
5. We steward something, learning responsibility.
6. We think and care for something beyond our self, learning selflessness.
7. We become rooted in Creation, versus the many odd views that arise from being divorced from creation.
8. Making new gardens or establishing old ones is redemptive, like the Gospel.
9. Tending to gardens, an ongoing process, is like sanctification.
10. Gardening is relaxing; it is time for prayer and thought.
11. Gardening provides space to worship God as the Creator.

Maybe next season you might take up gardening?

More importantly, are you gardening (tending and keeping) your own soul?  (c.f. Heb 13:17, the job of Christian leaders).