A retreat in my garden.

Others may retreat to the mountains, rivers and campsites to refresh and renew themselves, but I go to my garden. There is no place quite like my garden because there I am co-creator with God.

My mother is dying. My husband has severe arthritis, and my daughter is going through marital problems. I can’t do anything about any of those things. Nevertheless, they tear at me, harass me and darken my days. Even my prayers are nothing more than trouble recitations before God, as if he didn’t already know. How can I escape?

I go to my garden where it is calm. My garden needs me to grow and thrive as much as I need it. I take my spade and begin to dig up the lettuce bed. The weather is getting too hot and the lettuce is starting to taste bitter. What remains of the crop will soon bolt. It is time to prepare the soil for the hot weather vegetables.

Since I live in the Southwest, it is necessary to double dig my patch. That means to dig it two spades deep. I dig a row, one spade deep across the width of the bed. But instead of just turning the soil, I carry that soil to the other end of the bed, thereby creating a trench. Then, I put my spade into the trench I have just dug, and loosen the soil another 8 inches deep. On top of this loosened soil I add compost and manure. Then, when I begin to dig the second row, I lay the soil from it on top of the compost and manure. Now I have my second trench. I loosen the soil in it and add compost and manure again. I work this way till I get to the end of the bed. Then I take the dirt, which came from my first trench, and place that on top of the last row. I inhale the lovely fragrance of the fresh turned earth and am thankful that God has given me this patch of earth to “dress, till and keep”. I love to run my fingers through the moist soil. It has become so rich in soil bacteria and earthworms, since God and I started working it together. The lettuce tasted so good, and the peppers plants which will grow here next, will taste good in about three months time. It is a good partnership that God and I have here, working together, hand in hand. “There, I’m done now.”

I am tired and thirsty. But wow, I haven’t thought about my problems once while I was digging. Just a little bit right now. “Troubles go away, I’m not done yet. I need to set out the pepper plants and water the whole bed.”

It is not possible to brood on problems when one is involved in creative work. This little garden is my retreat, my place of renewal.

Jesus went to the garden of Gethsemane to pray. I go to my garden to dig and weed. When I am done, I feel so much better.