The Beautiful Garden

As the early spring has blended into the late spring, I've found myself continually wondering at each new type of perennial flower blooming in the garden behind the parsonage.  Just as one group of flowers begins to fade away, something else creeps into view and bursts into bloom.

It's been not only beautiful but inspiring, because none of this has been the result of my own work.  All of these flowers were planted by Pastor Jane or someone else, long before Marsha and I arrived here in Sussex, and the planning, planting and cultivation of the garden obviously required a lot of effort.  Because I am the only one here during much of the middle of each week, and because the garden is not easily visible from the entrance to the church, I am the only one to see many of these wonders.  That not only gives me a great appreciation for the hands that helped make the garden what it is today, it also fills me with a sense of obligation to preserve and tend the accomplishments of those who preceded me.

In many ways, that's a lot like the church itself.  The Apostle Paul noticed very early that while he might plant a church, others would need to care for it, and still others would see the fruit of all the labors.  We all need to recognize (and be grateful for the fact) that the lively and dedicated congregation we now share is the result of many years of faithfulness by other people we never even knew.  At the same time, we cannot simply enjoy the fruit of the labors of those who preceded us.  It is our responsibility to build up the church that is now in our care--even knowing that we may never be able to see much of the result of our efforts.  Our willingness to devote our best efforts to serving God's kingdom, without really knowing whether we will be here to see what comes from our efforts, is what faith is all about.

But if you have time while you're passing by the back of the church, take a minute to check out the flowers back here--they're worth the time!