I needed to replace a few plants out front and wanted to plant a few more. The replacements weren’t causing me any anxiety. After all, I had already dug the hole and a plant was already there, albeit a dead one.
No, the part that I was not looking forward to were the new holes I had to dig, because I knew from past experience what was waiting for me. Rocks and Roots.
Likely you have gone through the same experience. Slice the shovel into the topsoil only to hit either the hardness of rock or the tenacity of roots. And it really doesn’t matter how big either is. They take time to dislodge or cut through before you can continue.
However, I was reminded that what I found as obstacles of frustration while gardening were the very two metaphors God uses to describe himself.
First, he is Yahweh Tsuri, The Lord My Rock, and this rock is — fortunately — immovable and impenetrable. In the Old Testament this rock is described as “my fortress and my deliverer. . . my refuge and my savior” (2 Samuel 22:2-3) and in the New Testament “a chosen and precious cornerstone” (1 Peter 2:6).
And then Jesus is the vine (John 15), permanently rooted to provide nourishment and security, and this vine can never be uprooted.
I thought of rocks and roots and God as I was working my way around the garden planting my new flowers, and while the spiritual ones provided peace for my soul, the earthly ones created a nagging pain in my back. I still don’t like them.
No, the part that I was not looking forward to were the new holes I had to dig, because I knew from past experience what was waiting for me. Rocks and Roots.
Likely you have gone through the same experience. Slice the shovel into the topsoil only to hit either the hardness of rock or the tenacity of roots. And it really doesn’t matter how big either is. They take time to dislodge or cut through before you can continue.
However, I was reminded that what I found as obstacles of frustration while gardening were the very two metaphors God uses to describe himself.
First, he is Yahweh Tsuri, The Lord My Rock, and this rock is — fortunately — immovable and impenetrable. In the Old Testament this rock is described as “my fortress and my deliverer. . . my refuge and my savior” (2 Samuel 22:2-3) and in the New Testament “a chosen and precious cornerstone” (1 Peter 2:6).
And then Jesus is the vine (John 15), permanently rooted to provide nourishment and security, and this vine can never be uprooted.
I thought of rocks and roots and God as I was working my way around the garden planting my new flowers, and while the spiritual ones provided peace for my soul, the earthly ones created a nagging pain in my back. I still don’t like them.
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