Each garden seems to have its own personality.  Some are casual, filled with variety, are flashy and filled with bright color; while others are more formal with bordered beds and balanced design.  Some are kitchen gardens that have been carefully tended and fertilized to produce delicious vegetables for families.  Recently I attended a fellowship cookout, celebrating the success of a church community garden. Not only were the plants of different colors, but also were the people.   Some were happily cooperating in the watering of the garden beds.  The atmosphere was one of joy, harmony and peace. 

 

On reflection, it seems that every garden, no matter what its content, design or purpose, has one common characteristic, peace.  At the church community garden, in spite of the lively conversation and activity, there was peace.  The hymn In the Garden describes a person coming to a garden alone, early in the morning, to spend time with the Lord.  There is peace.  The scripture tells us that Jesus himself, the Prince of Peace, often went to a place alone, a garden, to receive strength, direction, affirmation and comfort from his Father. 

 

Perhaps the greatest peace comes from the fact that we have a living Savior who lives within each believer.  When Mary Magdalene went to the garden tomb to care for the body of her Lord and found instead a living Master of life and death, imagine the joy and ultimate peace she experienced there.  And so do we as we live each day in anticipation of how the Lord with use each of us to bring peace to this troubled, angry and sinful world.  My prayer for all of us is that our gardens will be filled with seeds planted for the Lord and that many will bear beautiful fruits to bring God’s peace to our world.

 

P. S.  MPT member took conversation with Emerson and wrote this journal.