gardens

I'm back in El Paso for the summer. Two weeks ago, we had a baby shower for my brother and his wife (and their precious, September baby named Lola). The shower was in my backyard, which is pretty incredible...if anyone has known my family intimately enough to venture into our backyard, they know that it is a huge, desert wasteland! For the 20 years that we've lived in this house, our backyard has only been loose sand, intermixed with some cacti and a few rocks. But then two years ago, my parents decided to, yes, garden this wasteland. It just started with some planters, and then some seeds, and then grass and a patio, and slowly this desert wasteland is taking a new shape. And guess what! Now there are 35 different kids of fruits, vegetables, and herbs growing outside! THIRTY FIVE! Even this morning, my parents are outside with three teenagers from their ministry, laying down some pink chat. They are doing the impossible! I stand amazed.

Green beans, potatoes, corn, cucumber, peas, pumpkins, and a workout bike.

Baby bell peppers!

Grapes! I'm most excited about these!

Even though it's far from finished, we're enjoying our backyard everyday. There's still quite a bit of sand and cacti, but we've nonetheless thrown multiple, beautiful parties in the midst of it. There's some sort of life lesson to be learned in this.

Baby shower for Lola

My wonderful family!


"He went with His disciples...where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered. Now Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with His disciples" (John 18:1-2).

Gardening with my mom and dad these past three summers has become something very treasured to me. We get up early, spend long efforts digging, planting, daily watering. It's hot and sweaty, but then finally, growth. Such patience, such work, such satisfaction! And through the process, I've realized how much God loves gardening.

The very first home environment on earth- the first paradise- was the Garden of Eden. Throughout parables, He speaks of sowing and reaping, the seeds which fall on various soils, the plentiful harvest, the fruit of the Spirit, the vine and the branches. And then, in the last few hours of His life before death, Jesus chose to pray in a garden. And I wonder: who was the gardener at Gethsemane?

Before Jesus came to earth, He knew what He was coming to do. He was the only person in all of mankind to choose everything about His life! He had the opportunity to choose eye color, jawline, city of birth, time period in history. He knew from Heaven where He would spend time on earth. And He "often met there," in this particular garden, with His disciples. I wonder why?

I wish I had an interview with the gardener. I imagine him relentlessly perfecting every corner of the property, leveling the land and cultivating the soil. Maybe his family mocked his hard effort, wondering why he so intensely cared. Yet something inside him just said to make it perfect- to work hard, plant the finest seeds, prune and graft and water. All leading up to that day when Jesus, in whom all things exist and for whom all was created, walked through the gate.

The Creator! Taking active part in His creation! And a hard-working, normal guy who was faithful enough that the King spent His most precious time in that particular garden.

Oh Lord, whatever I do, let me do it as unto You. I never know whether or not it just might be.