Heavenly Plant Matters

About this time last year, I started on the first raised bed I have ever made. Work-life was out of control at 10-12 hour days. Home life was very unsettled, as we were still adjusting to our new home, a whole new state, and our new status of having mom living in our home. 

Gah! 

So how would I fit this in? And perhaps a deeper question – why was I going to fit this in? Frankly, I was itching to start a garden in a real yard, having recently come from a small balcony area of growing space in Colorado. Also, the soil was clay and had in-ground sprinklers that I didn’t want to disturb. So – raised beds. Plus, if I weren’t gardening in the yard, I would be figuring out how to do it in the house. That said, at the time of this writing, you would think there IS a garden inside. Some things can’t be helped!

The project

My back was not in a state to do this alone, plus, I enjoy my quiet time in the garden. Even so, projects are usually more fun to do with someone else. So partly out of necessity, and partly to spend time with him, I enlisted the help of my son Alex for this one.

We went to Home Depot and grabbed: 

• Two boards: 10’x10”x2”
• Two boards: 8’x10”x2”
• Four rough posts, 8’ long. 
• Some chicken wire mesh for the bottom.

All of the wood pieces were cut in half to create a 4’x5’ raised bed, with approximately 4’ corner posts extended above the bed. 

Fill:

• Cardboard
• Some plants (that I had actually given up on!) and their soil
• Compost from two piles that I wanted to move
• More dirt from pots I wasn’t currently using

Due to time constraints per the above context, it took two weeks to complete this project.

It felt like a really long time for a project of this size. It was worth it though! Here is a progression through the 1st half of February: 

The passion

How did I fit it in? The bulky part of it was done on one weekend with Alex. Then I did the staining, oiling, and filling alone: on lunch breaks, in the evenings, and even on some warm sunny mornings before my remote work. There is a passion for gardening that soothes me, sometimes drives me, and could absolutely take over, if I let it. Sometimes it does get the better of me. Remember the fire ants I encountered when I was supposed to be getting ready for an appointment? Yep – I should have known better. They were in my second raised bed! 😀

But this passion for gardening should pale in comparison to a passion to know my God. In some seasons, it does. In others, not so much. But I fully desire to be consistent, and diligent, in this passion to know God and run after him with all of my heart. 

“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”

Romans 12:11, NIV 

Paul reminded the Judeo-Christians in Rome to be diligent in the very core of their beings, and this diligence was to permeate everything they did, and (taking it into the present day) that our zeal for serving the Lord should be just as great as our zeal for business, or gardening, or any other endeavor. For a deep dive, check out the commentary on Romans 12:11, on biblehub.com. 

The patience

I think the patience I possess is stronger now than when I was younger, some people call that maturity – I think. 🤔 And I understand now why older people don’t get so excited about things. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt, forgave those people, and saw that situation work itself out. As Solomon wrote – “there is nothing new under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9, NIV)

That said, I felt like this project should have taken four days. 

• Day 1: Pick up the materials and build the raised bed. 
• Day 2: 1st coat of inside oil and outside stain.
• Day 3: 2nd coat of inside oil and outside stain.
• Day 4: Fill the bed with growing material (fillers and soil).

But no, it took 15 days, and the sequence was a little off. Were there moments of discouragement? Sure. But only because it wasn’t going fast enough, and my body couldn’t keep up. Honestly. You would have thought I’d learned that one already. And although the lesson of patience is cyclical, 

• Sometimes things take too long because we don’t know how to do them. 
• Other times, it’s difficult to coordinate our schedule with the one(s) who can help. 
• And sometimes, we just don’t want it badly enough. 

Working it out

That’s kind of like this blog. I’m still trying to figure it out as I go. Trying to find the right “voice.” 

• The momentum comes and goes and I don’t think things are moving fast enough. 
• Sometimes I have all the momentum and ideas! But life, scheduling, family dynamics.
• And sometimes, I just feel lazy. 

But, if I keep chugging away at it, not giving up, and continuing to push through the uncertainty, I will eventually have the right voice, and the right cadence, and will reach the right audience. I do have cheerleaders in my corner, for whom I am very thankful. They are not who I thought would be cheering me on, but the encouragement they provide has been just what I needed to keep going. Thank you. ❤️

And also, thankfully – we are assured by Apostle Matthew (former tax collector) and Jeremiah the Prophet (who wanted to quit) that if we desire the things of God enough – he will be sure to satisfy us, whatever stage of life, or project, we are working through:

“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” 

Matthew 5:6, KJV

“And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”

Jeremiah 29:13, NKJV

⭐ That is enough for me, and something I hold onto for dear life when I need it. ⭐

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The progress

When we moved in, there was nothing but grass and a fence. And rocks by the back patio.  

This is our yard now. 

It is a work in progress, and so am I. Gardening encourages me to keep going. Through successful and mediocre projects, through perfect weather or foul, through high energy, or pain, or whatever. Even when things don’t turn out as expected, there is still something to be gained in the lesson. And it reminds me that He who began a good work in me will be faithful to complete it. (Philippians 1:6) This particular project also reminds me that there are a lot of little races in this big project we call life.

That video above? You can check out the greenhouse journey here and on my Instagram page.

So, if this raised bed project started on January 14, 2023, and it is now January 2024, there are a LOT of posts pending that I need to get done! Working on it. Otherwise, I’ll keep you posted here on the rest (pun intended 😂)!

Life is worship, and worship is life. ❤️

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