About two months back, I had started working on this piece of land the Natheniel's had so kindly loaned to me. Looking back, I can't believe has only been two months. It's felt like it has been a much longer time. All the hard work of digging up the ornamental plants (1), and reworking the soil (2), and the disappointments of finding the garden waterlogged, all seem like a distant nightmare when I look at the garden now (3). Two green amaranthus crops down the road, I have to say, I am quite pleased with the how the garden is progressing (carrots are in the ground and 1 week away from germination!).
Thoughts on the garden? I have to say, as a Christian, this garden has been a theological experience for me. It made quite real the curse God judged Adam with -
...cursed is the ground because of you;
in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;
thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you;
and you shall eat the plants of the field.
By the sweat of your face
you shall eat bread,
in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;
thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you;
and you shall eat the plants of the field.
By the sweat of your face
you shall eat bread,
till you return to the ground...
Yet at the same time, the garden in all its bounty, served as a reminder of God's common grace to us all. Although we had rebelled against Him and were thoroughly worthy of being denied all life and pleasure, He still lovingly gifts us with such variety and abundance of food crops. I mean, God could well have just given us only brussel sprouts (bleargh) to eat.'Tis indeed a sobering thought.
And therefore rightly so, for the small mercies God has gifted us with, and for the biggest mercy He could ever give, I give thanks for this garden.
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