My Nano Patch
| My Nano Patch – Spring Fever Since the return of Spring, my gardening fever has been driving me to the back garden for more than a month. With each up-tick in temperature, so does my activity, except for a brief respite when a pair of House Finches constructed their new home in one of my Italian Cypresses. Now that they have comfortably settled into their new home, my activities resumed. There is a certain amount of planning and know-how that go into the design of each bed and the placement of each plant before it rewards me with a profusion of blooms and scents. Then there is also the added bonus of butterflies and birds that are attracted by the sweet nectar, seeds and shelters. But it hasn't been easy. This has been an on-going learning process. Last season's mistakes form the basis for this season's success. And there has been plenty of mistakes. Despite the mound of gardening books I have procured in the past, somehow, the plants always manage to teach me something new. No amount of book knowledge can replace the sweat of nurturing; it is in nurturing mistakes are made, corrections are implemented and real knowledge is gained. It takes watchful persistence. Weeds are always quick to pop up where they are least wanted. And they are always quick to return when the gardener slacks off. I've seen some beautiful gardens in the neighborhood getting overrun with weeds due to negligence. It always leaves me with a sense of sadness every time I stroll by these neglected gardens. Can't help but see that it's the same with us. Our relationship with the Lord takes cultivation in order for it to blossom. Delicate seeds carelessly strewn over pavement or soggy clay will have no chance of blossoming. In the same way, careless disregard of His still small voice and pruning hand will result in stunted growth in our spiritual life. Isn't it also true of our relationship with each other? It takes much nurturing and persistence to see some blooms. Oh, the mistakes. Who among us hasn't made any mistakes? Each "wilting" of relationship is a warning from the Lord to correct us so that our relationship with Him and with the saints can get back to a nurturing course. The greatest mistake is to give up. Gardens suffer decline when gardeners give up. My back garden is not where I envision it, but it is taking shape. There have been plenty of mistakes, and undoubtedly, I'd probably make some more. May the Lord grant mercy so that I learn from each one of them and make corrections. The church life garden is likewise nowhere near where the Big Gardener envisions it, but let's not give up. The Lord says, "if he gives up, My soul is not pleased with him" (Heb. 10:38b -- a little gardener's rendition). Somewhere in my nano-patch of the universe, a few colors have begun to show up; and, aside from the House Finches, a couple of Ruby- Throats just started to dart from bloom to bloom. In our church life garden, buds are also beginning to form; let's yield to the Big Gardener's pruning and cultivating. I see much weeds in my relationship with the Lord and with some saints; gotta go pull 'em. Let brotherly love continue, Oliver Peng |
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