THE GARDEN EXPERIENCE

There is something most magnificent about a garden filled with beautiful blooms, shrubs, and boxwoods. They are so beautiful to behold, especially in a well-manicured garden or in wild mature blooms that are similar to meadows or English gardens. Gardens are absolutely an incredible creation, meticulously designed by man. It takes time and nourishment with much care to maintain these batches of art or architect courtyard. All of them are so marvelous. The most rewarding experience of a garden is the time you spend in it. Not time as in the hours, but your presence that lingers. To see nature at its best, strategically arranged, and most captivating to behold will calm your heart every time. Somehow, spending time in a garden seems to make everything much better.

The world seems to somehow pass away when you are in the midst of a garden. You can have your own garden in the privacy of your property, or you can catch a glimpse of a neighbor's garden. That is always most satisfying when your neighbor's garden catches your eye. I am truly blessed, I must admit, to frequently see my neighbor's gardens in my community. I have a neighbor right across from me whose garden is so beautiful. Every time I look out of my front window I see the most gorgeous view of her garden. She has hydrangeas that frame the front of her home. And the home next to her has the most gorgeous sunflowers, or black-eyed susans, climbing the side of her home. I don’t know which to choose from because they are both so beautiful to behold. Truly blessed on the side of my home, my neighbor across from me has purple blooms lined up in a row facing the water creek that’s between us. Oh my, simply lovely. The purple blooms look as though they are dancing with joy in the sunlight. On the opposite side of me, there is a wonderful neighbor that has different types of blooms: small patches of gardens, mostly yellow blooms, throughout her lawn. They are so beautiful they take my breath away! And God has blessed me and my husband with beautiful gardens where I live. Gardens are all around me and my husband Kent.

There are many vineyards that have gardens to visit. There are garden shows and exhibits to visit in your community. Topiary gardens are also wonderful because of the art of sculpting topiaries, these beautiful boxwoods, are truly captivating to behold because of the craftsmanship that is behind them. We are still in the winter months but Spring is near and many of us are thinking and planning our gardens ahead. Adding something new to your gardens every Spring is delightful, even garden fountains, sculptures, or furniture, can bring life to any garden. Spending time in your gardens with your family, loved ones, or friends, with teas, sandwiches, or just a simple glass of lemonade is most satisfying. Even in solace, not saying anything, sitting quietly on a garden bench or just a chair, looking far off, or gazing up at our heavenly home, heaven, is very nurturing. Yes, beloved, heaven, where God our Father lives.

God lives in heaven and he loves gardens and he loves to meet us there. There is something about God and gardens that forever hold our attention to always thinking about the one who created us: God himself. Somehow all of our problems seem to melt away when we are in a garden with God. Our heavenly Father first met man in the Garden of Eden, which was Adam and Eve. It was there that God gave man (mankind) his first command after he had formed him. Our heavenly Father loves what he created: mankind. God actually sees his people, his creations, as a garden. Gardens are as assorted and beautiful as his people. It is truly amazing how God sees his people, so many different ethnicities and races, as a garden.

Jesus Christ, God’s Son, often met with his disciples in the garden. God yearns to meet with you in your garden. This is a word for you, a prophetic word! You say, “I don’t have a garden.” You can visit many local gardens in your community or parks. There is a garden for you. There is a place to meet the most-high God this upcoming Spring. God says meet me in the garden. Meet God at a garden in a park. Meet God at a garden glimpsing at your neighbor's lawn. Meet God in the garden in the comfort of your own lawn. However you meet God this coming Spring, whether it is your garden, or a community garden, or neighbor’s garden, God’s desire is to meet you at this special place. God says, meet me at a place of tranquil peace, no chaos, no worries, just me and you and a garden. It is God’s desire for you to have a garden experience with Jesus this Spring. Amen.

“And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed” (GENESIS 2:8)

“How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel! As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river's side, as the trees of lign aloes which the Lord hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters” (NUMBERS 24:5-6).

“When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples” (JOHN 18:1).

To God Be the Glory,

Reverend Helen Trower