The past month has been spent with all the women on my squad together doing ministry in White River, South Africa. We have been partnering with Manna Family Church helping prepare for the annual Christmas play, painting areas in buildings on the property, and cleaning up weeds in the garden.
Most of the things we’ve done I’ve enjoyed doing. I’ve loved learning how to rearrange a stage to set up for a play. I’ve loved spending time with Andy, our ministry host and learning a lot from him in how to live a life that’s not about me. The thing I’ve struggled to enjoy the most is pulling weeds in the garden. It’s hot, and muggy, and the sun is beating down on you with no clouds and you feel like you’re going to melt.
Something beautiful happened in that garden though – life happened in the garden. Sure there were days that weren’t very fun and that wouldn’t be the task I personally would’ve chosen on any given day, but those are the days I cherish the most. Time moved very slowly in the garden and the best way to pass the time was to get to know the person you were working alongside. Most of the time these were shallow conversations such as ‘make it or break it,’ which are questions that go he’s the perfect guy for you except he yells every time someone sneezes (that’s for you Rosie). The magical thing about these conversations is they opened the door to dive deeper into that person’s heart. To see them for who they are, where they’re at in this very moment.
This is where we deemed it the sacred garden. It was a safe space to ask questions, to be content with where you are at whether you like it or not, and to spend time processing things that needed processing. The sacred garden was a place where tough conversations happened which led to calling others into something greater. The sacred garden is what the race is about: growth and intimacy and freedom to speak truth into a friend’s life. If we can’t do that with each other as sisters and women of God, then how are we supposed to do that with random people who we have just met? The sacred garden taught me a lot about how to continually make the most of every moment. To not let the circumstances of the surroundings of the day decide what the day will look like for you. The sacred garden holds freedom and love and hard work and friendship. Above all else the sacred garden holds Jesus because without Him none of these things would’ve ever been present.
