Greetings fellow sojourners! I pray that all is well with each and every one of you. A few days ago, I was sitting on the couch reading and I realized that time had gotten away from me since my last post and an entire month had gone by without nary a word from me. I have neglected you, my faithful and loving readers, and for that I lament and beg your pardon.
As I was reflecting, however, on my serious neglect of this blog, I realized that I really haven’t been in much of a headspace to write. I believe I mentioned this in a little more detail in my post on moving. Quite honestly, I have spent most of my time getting acclimated to my new pastoral role. I have had regular weekly meetings, discussions, and discipling opportunities, ever since we moved into our new home. One of my co-laborers here in my new church made the joke, “it’s like you’re a pastor or something!” While the work has been busy, it has been rewarding and fulfilling. And I’m more than excited to do a whole lot more of it!
But yesterday I was out working in my new lawn (as I am prone to do on Monday’s), and I had a very minor epiphany regarding our discussion on the Imago Dei. I wasn’t planning on writing this post when I first set out to discuss the importance of our imaging God, but this strangely fit right in as a real world example of some of the comments that I have made in those previous posts… and it comes down to the nature of work, particularly in working the land.
A little personal disclaimer for those who don’t know – I have a romanticized ideal of homesteading and working the land. And I am able to continue feeding that romanticized ideal because I only live on .25 acres of land. But it’s my .25 acres of land! In my romanticized version of working the land, I grow my own food, preserve it, and we eat of our bounty and are satisfied and filled. In reality, there’s no way to do this well where we’re at… but you can bet I’m going to try.
Another reason that this is romanticized is that I have never had to work a real working farm for longer than a day… So, much of this is just from simple ignorance. Other than chickens, I have no interest or experience in any kind of livestock (other than chasing down one of my late uncle’s lost pigs when I was around 8 years old). After having worked in insurance for 7 years and visited my share of farms in that time, I have no desire to do anything with cattle (they’re nasty animals and are way more touchy than necessary for an animal of their size). Goats are a no-go for me because Barney Fife taught me that goats will eat anything (including dynamite!). And pigs … well pigs are just simply too dirty for suburban living. So, a small flock of chickens (2-3) and a garden will suffice for me!
Back to our topic at hand, though. I do enjoy gardening. I enjoy working the dirt and planting flowers. This is either because it was passed down from my grandfather and father or because it has been written into my creative DNA by the Lord God (I am fine with claiming both). My problem is that I enjoy it too much. This is a problem only because I want to do something with it every day and see immediate results. I am impatient – I want fruit and flowers all the time while also having work to do… and then I want to sit back in my little oasis and a drink and a book.
Over the last few years while living in an apartment on my parents property, I dabbled in a few projects that I hoped to be able to one day expand. Things such as composting which is surprisingly easy, fun, and cuts down on a stinky garbage can. So, now that I have a little plot of my own that I can work and keep, my mind wandered back around to how doing something as simple as planting a bush or a tree or a row of tomatoes is just as faithful to the creation mandate of Genesis 1:28 as farming 40 acres of land.
And here’s where this all ties together with our Imago Dei series of posts… If one were to read a little further into Genesis, Genesis 2:15-16 in particular, they would quickly see that working the dirt is in our very nature. Even if you live in an apartment and want to fill a $5 plastic tote with dirt and throw some herbs in it, that works too (just be sure to drill some drainage holes in it or you’ll get root rot).
Back to my yard – Since moving in I have planted two midnight crepe myrtle trees, a hydrangea bush, and a blueberry bush. I was out working in my yard yesterday spreading mulch around these new trees and bushes when I had this minor epiphany that, regardless of the size of our little homesteads, we show the image of God in our make up by doing something as simple as preparing new trees for the winter by giving them a little mulch to keep their roots from freezing before they’re well established to survive (consider the illustration here of proper discipleship of our children and new Christians! I smell a future post!). The Lord God placed us on the earth to work it and to keep it, for His glory.
It’ll be a couple of years before my hydrangea grows tall enough to shade the corner of the house that I want it to shade, but the flowers it brings forth next year will still sing the glory of God (Psalm 19:1-6, Romans 1:20). My little midnight crepe myrtles both have different colored flowers. I’ll get a few next year, but it will be years before they are as tall and full as my neighbor’s. And, try as I might to live on blueberries, I most likely won’t get a single berry next year (there’s a chance since I planted it this fall, but it’s a slim one) – but tending to it until it brings forth the “fruit of it’s kind” (Genesis 1:11) will be a joy and a pleasure… Because the Lord God took the man and placed him in the Garden to work it and to keep it.
So, plant something this next spring, even if it’s in a small container. Or get an indoor plant that you can care for and water. Do something with a little bit of dirt. Work it and keep it… to the Glory of God.
Pictures!
I did take a few photos of my new plants yesterday for the sole purpose of sharing them with you all! More will come as I continue to plant and as these begin to bloom and bear fruit. In order, they are: Blueberry Bush, Hydrangea Bush, Midnight Crepe Myrtle (white), and Midnight Crepe Myrtle (red).
Enjoy!
The SouthTown Pastor 