NOTHING WILL GROW THERE!
Brian Cavanaugh, T.O.R. tells about a magnificent harvest in his
book "MORE SOWER'S SEEDS: Second Planting." One spring, he and
two seminary friends sought permission to plant a garden. He
says, "Our house of studies was located in the downtown area of a
large metropolitan city. There wasn't much of a backyard.
Actually, it was a stone-covered dirt parking lot with no extra
space. However, we carefully planned our garden, taking into
account the area that received optimal sunshine.
"The three of us approached the superior with our plan for a
small area to plant some squash, tomatoes and cucumbers. The only
real cost involved was to rent a rake, a pickax and a hoe.
However, getting the superior's permission would still be
difficult. None of us who were involved with this garden project
will ever forget his response to our request. With a slightly
bored, tilting of his head he glanced at us and abjectly replied,
'You're wasting your time. Nothing will ever grow there! But, go
ahead if you still want to.'
"We had received permission from on high! So what if it wasn't
enthusiastic. We rented tools; raked four inches of stones into
neat walls outlining the garden; hoisted the pickax and struck
what must have been a former refuse area. A gardener's dream --
dark, composted, fertile soil just sitting there waiting to be
discovered. We looked at each other with broad grins and repeated
in unison, 'Ah, nothing will grow there.' As you might have
surmised by now, things did grow there, in our garden. In fact,
twice we re-staked the tomatoes, topping them off, finally, when
they were seven feet tall."
Have you ever felt that way about your life -- "Nothing will grow
there..."? Have you felt discouraged about your life's progress?
Worried about crop failure? Disappointed that nothing good ever
seems to come up?
What do you want to grow? Understanding? Faith? Courage?
Optimism? Joy? Love? Or are you nurturing a new project or small
business?
Don't believe that "nothing will grow there." I like the
observation of writer George Eliot, "It's never too late to be
who you might have been." You may not always see the potential
for growth, but it is there. All the rich compost you need may be
hidden just beneath the surface, but can only be discovered
after you begin digging.
Ralph Waldo Emerson proclaimed, "Oh man! There is no planet sun
or star could hold you, if you but knew what you are." You are
capable of doing and becoming more than you might imagine!
With careful nurture, something WILL grow there. And it will be
magnificent.
--Steve Goodier
