Day 9: Gardening as a form of prayer

I've decided to make an ongoing effort to become aware of moments of prayer both active when I seek out God intentionally and passive,  when I find myself on the listening side of prayer. 

Today I was gardening and I realized how much this really is a spiritual practice rather than a simple hobby. It for me is a direct joining with God in the work of creation. 

I can learn about God's creation - what makes certain seeds germinate,  what conditions help deterivours develop a healthy ecosystem,  what plants like to live together - but only God is present in the life and death of all those creatures in my garden. 

There are so many parables in the Bible - partially because Jesus lived in an agricultural society but I think also because in the garden,  we come as close as we can to understanding God's perspective... that and parenting (which is also a topic of many parables)

In the work of gardening,  I find my senses awaken and my mind quiets.  I look,  I feel.  I focus.  I work with my body.  I become somewhat non-verbal. The part of me that is verbal tends to be curious and questioning - I wonder how deep to plant this? Are these weeds beneficial? Can chickens eat these?  

My body soaked in sunshine,  my hands drenched in soil.  My lungs full of that fragrance of rich compost mixed with the smell of rain with notes of flowers and greenery.  My mind is calm.  And there... as a teacher would say... I have reached a teachable moment.  

And God teaches me.  As I lament over a single plant that won't grow or a peach tree lush with peaches that are bitter... probably because there were too many peaches and too little water. There's the garden bed I've planted 6 different times only to have it eaten each time by escape chickens,  just as I start to hope that it will make it. There's waking up at night and running out into the yard to save a chicken from a raccoon and the deep joy when I see new shoots from a plant I was sure had died the year before. 

Sometimes I even find myself talking out loud to God about these lessons.  I find myself praying for those plants that might not make it.  And... I literally held vigil with a chick I knew was dying but I couldn't bear to let it die alone.  So I held it into the night.... of course this was during Lent and there was a blog about it.  

A few years ago,  Ulrich's cousin had a terrible accident and was in a coma for a couple weeks before passing away.  We couldn't go to be with her,  but I planted a small section of my garden with flowers that reminded me of her and I spent time daily working in that section of my garden as I prayed for her. 

Even as a write this post,  I kind of surprised myself by how intertwined gardening and faith are for me.  I go out there and work.  Sometimes God shows up and works along side me.  Sometimes i just see evidence that he had been there.  Nearly always, God comes to mind at least for a moment. 

Lent falls in the perfect time for prayer in the garden. Death slowly becomes alive. Light slowly grows longer. Gardens are fairly demanding (and inspiring) this time of year.  Pruning trees before they bud. Cleaning up the tangles and the daunting wildness that looks both dead and overwhelming. Working soil. Planting seeds.

With a more intentional focus on spiritual practices during this season,  I invite you to reach out to God in your garden ... if gardening is a thing you do. 

I looked up articles on the Christian tradition of prayer in gardens and it is extensive. Jesus often prayed in gardens, most monasteries include gardening as a daily work that helps in the devotion to God.  Many churches and Christian schools and hospitals feature prayer gardens as spaces set aside. 

Many articles I looked at discussed how to build a prayer garden... which,  if you have the space and find that you connect with God while gardening,  I would highly recommend.  I was giddy reading some of the ideas.  I don't have space for a dedicated prayer garden but I am considering some of the features for sections of my yard. 

Here are some of my favorite ideas:

- Select plants with symbolic meaning lilies, bleeding heart,  grapes,  mustard

- consider a statute or other focal point

- find a specific spot or orientation or view that is your prayer spot. A chair,  a cushion,  a swing, that padded foam you kneel on when pulling weeds

- create a pattern with stones that you can walk (like a labyrinth) or if space is limited,  trace your fingers over. 

The weather has been crazy this year.  Snow seems to want to persist. Even in California we've had snow where we don't usually get snow.... and more is on the way.  If you can't get out and get in the diet quite yet,  maybe thinking through how you might add a bit of prayer to your garden might be a practice into itself. 

Spring is coming.