Gardening has never been my thing...

Gardening has never been my thing. Whatever the opposite of a green thumb is, I have it. Every plant I touch quickly becomes wilted and brown. I either overdo it with water or under expose with sunlight. No matter what the tag says upon purchase, I cannot seem to get the care right once I bring it home. Time and time again, it goes from purchase to purge in a matter of days.

My track record with healthy plants may lead you to believe that I do not have a lot of interest in matters of the earth, but lately that’s all I have been thinking about. It’s not so much that I have been researching the best fertilizers or the latest pruning techniques, but God has had me in one verse that has got me pondering issues of the soil.

James 1:21 says…So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.

The Lord brought me to this verse early in the week and I have spent the last few days diving into its meaning for me personally. In it we see two tasks at hand. I prepare the soil and God plants the seed. Together, we experience divine power.

Preparing the soil

Preparation of soil in the natural, requires a few different things. It cannot be overly compacted or too wet. It needs to have the right balance of nutrients and pH. The soil molecules cannot be too close together, and the area has more potential for new growth when more mature plants are close.

Pursuing a healthy spiritual life is much like preparing physical soil for harvest.

Soil needs compost

Soil needs compost. This additive provides nutrients that the plants desperately need. In many instances compost is composed of decaying matter. Our own lives require the resurrective touch of our Savior in order for life to come forth. We too have a vital need for supplemental strength through God’s word, prayer and worship. Plants will not grow to maturity without compost, and our spiritual lives will not mature without the truth of Jesus.

Soil needs aeration

Healthy soil also requires aeration. This is a process in which the gardener pokes holes in the land to make room for air, water and nutrients to easily flow through. In addition, aeration allows space for roots to grow deeper, producing a more stable and secure plant. Our culture is one of great busyness and hustle. Our calendars are stacked with back to back events. Our to-do lists are pages long. What we are left with is a hamster wheel like exhaustion with little opportunity for respite. The soil of our hearts needs aeration, too. Our very souls crave space. Like hard soil, our overburdened hearts can be so compact that we cannot receive the life giving water that God desires to provide. I’ve found that a daily connection point with the Lord is non-negotiable. I must make space for time with God. There’s no substitute for it, and the soil of my soul is desperate for it.

Soil and community

The best soil has deeply rooted plants already in place. Mature plants add shelter and an established root system for the new life. Similarly as believers, we thrive in community. Jesus’ entire ministry was built on relationships. He built a team of 12 based on relationships. He ministered and healed out of relationship. And ultimately he went to the cross to secure our relationship with God. Community is His heart, and like newly sown seeds among growing plants, we grow best when we grow together. As individuals, we can find greater spiritual health when we are connected to someone who is walking just a bit ahead of us. Life amongst other life is most beneficial.

Closing

Today, you may find yourself being like me, having few plans of gardening and planting this spring. Your weekend schedule may not include weeding or fertilizing. However, you may be interested in preparing the soil of your heart for planting. Among our fast paced days and blaring culture, my hope is that we would realize what’s most important, and that attaining it is not complicated. May we nurture our hearts with His truths. May we make space to hear His voice, May we surround ourselves with a community of believers who are choosing to grow as well. And may we see that preparing our soil makes all the difference.