Monday, October 17, 2011

Dear God,

So many times, O Lord, I learn lessons from simple daily living. Today it was my Indiana garden that spoke to me.

We came home to a massive weed bed. The noxious greens had a heyday this summer. Trees took root and butterfly bushes popped up everywhere. Some plants grew up and out of their beds. Others took off in wild directions without benefit of pruning. A once well-defined pathway through the contemplative garden was so completely covered that I had to lift plants to find it. In such disarray I had to spend seven and a half hours working and I barely could tell where I had labored.

The lesson I learned is that if I allow my spiritual life garden to grow without tending to it, my life of faith could lose its hope, form, beauty, organization, and well being. I too could be in such sad shape that my own road to you could be lost.

Today as I cleaned, raked, plucked, shoveled, pulled, cut, and straightened, I was able to make sense and restore small areas in my flower bed and I was happy. I pray that I will never allow my spiritual garden to suffer from such neglect.

Open my eyes,
dear God,
to the needs
of faith
all around me.
Remind me
to tend
to those things
you and I
have created.
Sensitize me
to care
for the gifts
you have
given me.
Help me
be a
responsible steward
of your creation,
I pray.

Love, Andrea