What I am thinking:

So many vegetables to grow, so little time.

When we moved to our new home 4 months after I began my first call, Jon and I began planning our gardens. We were excited. After years of not have enough sun or space in our last yard, we were designing and sketching out plans for our sun drenched side lawn.

For the first time, we decided to build raised beds. Or I should say I decided... Jon had yet to be convinced. You Tube came to the rescue, and after Jon watched a young man build a 4' x 12' x 12" high box while at the same time tossing a frisbee to his two black labs Jon concluded he would make the attempt. Once he built the first box, he was pumped. This was a carpentry project he could be successful with.

After filling the 6 boxes Jon created and set in place on our lawn with 2 yards of lovely composted soil with set about planting seeds and sets. Carrots and beets and lettuces. Four varieties of tomatoes. Zucchini and crook neck summer squash. Acorn Squash. English cucumbers, Bell Peppers and Eggplants. And, potatoes. Of the hundreds of varieties that exist in the world, very few are available for purchase in western Wisconsin.

The second year we added a couple more boxes so Jon could grow potatoes. Katahdins (which come from potato country in Maine), Yukon Golds, Norland Reds, and Russets were all lovingly planted, mounded, and harvested. In our third year of planning, we have added 3 more boxes -- completing our three year plan creating our garden space. This year I grew tomatoes from seed, and have just this afternoon placed cucumber and winter squash seeds into pots to hedge against a frost that could take out early outdoor plantings.

Growing plants in this environment, in lovely composted soil with few weeds just miles from the St. Croix river seems a nearly ideal situation. And yet, not all seed successfully grow into hearty vegetables for harvest even in the most ideal environment.   Some plants, like celery require black, mucky soil -- while others will wither if they are watered late at night.

How similar this is to people and their life of faith.

Every congregation is it's own unique context, offering a specific environment that is more or less healthy for those who live in the greater community. Strong personalities, like aggressive plants can push aside less hearty souls. Longtime (heirloom) members are a church's backbone, their roots running deep and their loyalty to the place apparent. The Holy Spirit brings the word alive in the hearts of each seed -- like varying levels of water and fertilizer. I have witnessed people flourish, like plants that have received water and fertilizer, and I have poured on extra love as others have withered, with varying levels of success.

How important it is to remember that, whether gardens or congregations, it is God who creates and maintains, it is God who brings abundant fruit to bear. We can make, we can tend, even nurse and coddle, but is God alone who makes abundant life.