Art, Gardens, and Parables

One of the things I was most looking forward to with our new home, was having a little garden. This week, I've spent hours and hours digging, planting, weeding, and watering. (Along with just staring at my plants...)

While digging through the rock saturated soil in my yard, I couldn't help but think of the Parable of the Sower. "Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop..." - Mark 4:8

The more I dug, the more I realized that this little garden represented my own heart. 

Here's what I mean: 

This picture above is what I started with. Dry, weed infested, rocky soil. That's my heart without the Lord. It produces no fruit, just weeds that suck the life out of other plants. 

Before anything could be grown, I had to remove the rocks and weeds. It was hard work. I kept thinking, "Well, I could leave this rock because it's really tough to get out...", but I knew it would block my new plants from growing. 

The rocks and weeds represent the sin in my heart. It hurts to get rid of that stuff sometimes. It's difficult. But when those weeds and rocks are there, they keep my heart brittle and unable to reach it's full potential. No fruit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self-control) can really be produced.

Only after this stuff was removed and the soil really worked, was it time to plant. Now something is ready to be grown. So, I started my planting. Of course, I'm a little late in the season, so I wasn't actually growing from a seed, which sort of throws the whole parable with the seeds out the window, but whatever. I planted my tomatoes, herbs, flowers, cucumbers, sweet potatoes, squash and more...

But the work isn't over.

Everyday, weeds are going to pop up. My little garden will be under attack. I have to care for it daily. I have to get rid of those weeds before they take over. 

And that's the way I have to nuture my heart. I have to be on guard for the weeds (sin) that will pop up even in the most cared for soil. 

Everyday I have to make sure my little garden has enough water, plant food, etc. And I have to feed it what it needs to survive. 

It's the same with my heart: I need to feed my soul with good things that will make it grow, and I need to keep the weeds out.

Illustration by: Me

Deep thoughts by your artist friend today...

Comments

[Laura]

Megan, I love your deep thoughts today, and I especially adore your "Fall on Good Soil" artwork!! Great reminders. Miss you, girl.

[Megan]

Thanks Laura! I'm no theologian, but I try ha ha!