New Growth: 12 Things I’ve learned from my urban garden

• My urban garden is pathetic, at least when compared to my neighbor’s garden. The family is from Bosnia, having escaped the war there in the early 90s. One of the sons was killed during the conflict. They have that Old World magical way of charming the soil into producing bushel upon bushel of veggies from one, tiny, backyard city plot. Sheesh. At first, I was jealous. But after a while, God helped me to see that it’s ridiculous to compare the two gardens. My neighbors work with the skills and resources that he gave them, and I work with the skills and resources that he gave me. Both are equally important and beautiful in the eyes of God. That goes for everything I am and do.
• Both gardening and spirituality require consistency. I can’t water the plants abundantly for a week and then let it slip because I don’t feel like it. They will die, or at least be crippled. In the same way, I can’t be crazy fervent about my prayer life one week, and then just let it slip because I don’t feel like it. My spirituality, my faith, with die or at least be crippled.

I have no doubt I’ll be learning more and more as the summer progresses. I’m grateful for what I’ve experienced and learned so far. I pray that as my urban garden grows, so will my relationship with God.

Take a tour of my urban garden.