What if the Kingdom is as simple as seeds planted by a Master Gardener?
The seeds sprout. They become the plants they were destined to become. They produce their particular fruit.
It’s not complicated. God knows He planted seeds of love, so He knows the kinds of plants and fruit His garden will produce.
He invites us to help tend the garden. We get to pull some weeds, add a little fertilizer, enjoy and share some of the produce. If we accept His invitation, we experience the joy of being part of the process. We also get blisters and stickers, because they’re part of tending the garden. Mostly, we get to hang out and learn God’s way of gardening.
It’s God’s garden. It’s long-term. It’s simple.
I make it complicated.
I see a weed and it becomes my personal quest. That weed will destroy the garden unless I vanquish it. I’ll do whatever’s necessary. I’m on a mission from God!
I’ll dump poison in the garden. I’ll shove other garden-tenders aside. This weed’s got to be killed, at any cost!
I see a plant that isn’t growing as I think it should. It needs more fertilizer, more water, or it’ll die! Without my wisdom, we won’t get the right fruit.
I see another garden-tender who’s doing it wrong. If I don’t change things, he’ll wreck the garden and offend the Gardener. It’s obviously my job to judge and criticize. If things don’t improve, he’s simply gotta go. This garden is too important to allow one bad worker to destroy what the rest of us created.
The Gardener chuckles. He didn’t invite me because He needed my help or advice. He wanted us to spend time together. He hoped I’d watch and learn about His way of gardening. He even brought His own Son along as an example of how to hang out and grow the garden His way.
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I share this parable because we’re at that stage of planning TAOS TO TUCSON.
It’s the time when I’m pretty sure God’s forgotten how to garden and needs me to take over. He needs me to fuss and worry about the weeds. He isn’t sure what fertilizer to use. He hired the wrong workers.
If I don’t make this project a success, it’ll flop miserably. The garden will be a disaster and it’ll be my fault.
I know it’s silly. In fact, I’m sharing it because I’ll bet you’ve been at that stage too.
So today I’m reminding us—it’s God’s garden and He’s not worried.
What if we agree to relax and trust that He knows what He’s doing?
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