Tip of My Iceberg

I am no gardener. I’ve never claimed to be one, but I thought I could follow directions and see results.

Obviously, my engagement in green things attempting to grow is wasted energy.

After our big freeze this past winter, we lost quite a few of our plants. We waited for the weather to warm before embarking on another planting project.

I did my research this time. I checked out what grows in our Central Florida climate and what might really thrive where we live. We have partial sun, partial shade in a good bit of our garden, so I needed something that could handle the intensity of the sun as well as a lesser amount of sun. You know, the happy medium.

We went to the nursery with a list of plants, hoping we might find something that would look glorious in our garden. There were way more options than I’d counted on. I found the area that held the partial sun/partial shade plants, and the variety was stunning.

I pitched my list.

We walked around, gazing with awe at the multi-colored plants, most of which I’d never heard of before. We picked out some plants with bright red leaves, imagining how well they’d add color to the garden. We took them home, planted them as per instructions, and waited for them to grow in beauty.

Not so much.

We’d purchased two sets of these plants. One set, the one that received the most shade, actually did well. The others, which had more sun, never really made it. Yes, we’ve had a blistering summer, with long periods with no rain. But I was hoping for an inkling of growth; it never happened.

Photo courtesy of Fala Sayam on Unsplash

There are so many times in life where we anticipate growth only to be disappointed by the results. Parents may feel dissatisfied with their children’s progress in growth and development, not acknowledging that every child follows their own developmental path. Teachers may feel frustrated when they don’t see progress in their students, no matter how many times they go over a subject.

Jesus reminds us that true growth comes from being strongly connected to the right source. Jesus called Himself the true grapevine, a metaphor that the Jews would have readily understood. Throughout Scripture, Israel is often depicted as a vineyard or vine. Too often, Israel was not able to produce the “fruit” expected of it, a commitment to keeping God’s commands so they would flourish as a culture.

By declaring Himself the true vine, Jesus stated that He was what Israel was intended to be: fully connected to God and flourishing in His humanity. Because He’s the source of our strength, we can draw our own spiritual vitality from Him. “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5.

God, who made us, had a plan that would enable us to grow and prosper in Him, where life could be satisfying, even in the difficult times that will most assuredly come. He sent Jesus to earth to show us God. A branch can’t exist apart from the vine or tree it’s attached to. Independently, they will wither and die because they are cut off from their life source.

We need connection to Jesus to supply us with the life He offers, one of grace, mercy, and forgiveness. Apart from Him, we’re relying on our best efforts to make us worthy. Our best efforts will always fall short of the perfection God demands.

I may not be a gardener, but Jesus is a true gardener of the soul. He knows what nourishment we need, and no matter where we’re planted, He cares for us so that we may grow and thrive.

In God’s garden, there are no dead plants.