While in Albania I had the opportunity to do some practical ministry. What does that mean exactly? Weeds. I pulled a lot of Weeds. The GREAT thing about this is the Lord ALWAYS speaks to me through nature. Whether I am intentionally listening or he just starts talking, he’s there. So here is something I heard.
We are each our own garden. Each of us have our own array of unique flowers (gifts) and plants (talents) that make us beautiful. And they each create their own unique aroma. We each have our own weeds (sin struggles) too. Some of them are common ones like the dandelions I encountered. Dandelions are freaking everywhere and are a great analogy for pride. Every garden had them. They are deep rooted and spiky. Now, some weeds are not spiky but they are vines that weave their way into everything. People pleasing is one analogy that comes to mind. There is no facet of life where people pleasing doesn’t creep. It might look nice and even have flowers that make it look appealing, but it slowly chokes the actual flowers that are supposed to be there. If you do not take the time to weed out these toxic plants, they will choke out all of the plants that are supposed to be there. Weeding out your personal garden will take time. You are going to NEED help. Thankfully Jesus and an amazing gardener. Just read the bible he talks about it a lot. He has a special affinity for grape vines.
God is the best gardener, but he uses each of us to help cultivate each other. Think of small garden clippers used to take blooms, large clippers used to lop off bigger branches, garden rakes, shovels, etc. With that in mind, he uses us in specific ways. This is where obedience comes into play. I might be called to trim small twigs here and there. But if I see a large branch that I think needs to be taken care of things won’t go well for me. The Lord did not call or design my purpose, as small bloom clippers, to take care of big branch problems. He called me to trim. If I try to take big branches off I will end up making a huge mess of things and could end up seriously wounding that person. Be careful to be attentive to the plan the Lord has designed you for. The fun comes when you are designed for a different purpose in every person’s life (because Jesus knows that being a garden rake foy your whole life would be boring!!)
The other thing about Gardens is that they are all beautiful! When a garden is cultivated and producing blooms it is amazingly fragrant. But the wild beauty of a field of sunflowers is no more or less stunning than the perfectly manicured gardens of the Queen. Everyone’s gardens are unique and cannot be and should not be compared. In doing that you are stealing the gardener of his incredible handiwork.
