166. Gardening, Anyone? — Aneel Aranha

Hello and welcome to The Hope Podcast. I'm Aneel Aranha. Today, we're going to explore the lessons we can learn from a nursery rhyme and the often-overlooked practice of gardening.

"Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow?" This simple question from a beloved children's nursery rhyme holds more depth than we might initially realize. It invites us to reflect on our own spiritual gardens. How are we nurturing our faith? What kind of fruit are we producing in our lives?

The story of humanity in the Bible begins in a garden. God placed Adam in the Garden of Eden to "work it and take care of it" (Genesis 2:15). This suggests that tending to creation is part of our original purpose. When we garden, whether physically or spiritually, we participate in God's ongoing work of creation and cultivation.

Jesus frequently used gardening imagery in His parables. He spoke of sowing seeds, pruning vines, and separating wheat from chaff. These metaphors offer profound insights into spiritual growth and the nature of God's kingdom. Like Mary's garden with its "silver bells and cockle shells," our spiritual lives should display a variety of virtues and good works.

Gardening teaches us patience and trust. We plant seeds, not seeing immediate results, but trusting in the process of growth. This mirrors our spiritual journey, where growth often happens slowly and out of sight. The "pretty maids all in a row" didn't appear overnight in Mary's garden, and neither do the fruit of the Spirit in our lives.

The act of weeding reminds us of the importance of rooting out sin and negative habits from our lives. Just as weeds can choke out healthy plants, unaddressed sin can hinder our spiritual growth. We must be "contrary" to the weeds in our spiritual gardens, actively working to remove them.

Pruning in the garden teaches us about God's refining work in our lives. As John says, "He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful" (John 15:2). God, the master gardener, knows exactly what needs to be trimmed away for us to flourish.

How can we cultivate a spiritual approach to gardening? Start by viewing your garden, both literal and metaphorical, as a sacred space. As you work, be mindful of God's presence. Use the time for prayer and reflection. Ask yourself, "How does my garden grow?" and listen for God's guidance.

God bless you.