Good Samaritans live!!

At this writing, March is decisively budding into April, and my initial bruises from the new garden plot are healed while new ones have emerged.  The railroad ties are secured in place, sort of, and the new drill I purchased for that part of the project (with which I sprained my wrist—also healed) is put away for the time being.  One thing I recognize is the importance of keeping my eyes on the prize—the vision I have for the productivity and beauty of this new green space.  I’ve gone through my Plan A to Plan B to Plan C and might actually be ending up with something I like. 

It’s good for one with my limited skill set to be flexible in these things, you know.

I’m now trying to fill in the terraced area with appropriate contents amenable to growing things, preferably flowers, and strategically place in a few containers for edibles.  I’ve spent more than I care to admit on additional dirt, and have taken to building up the area with FREE compost from our small town’s utility and works department.  They also have an area where they burn off old brush and timber, so on one of my trips this morning, (Buckley came along just for kicks), I found a few nicely cut pieces of tree trunks that would serve well as elevated platforms within said railroad ties.  One of them, however, I knew was way beyond my ability to handle, (kinda wish I had known that about the new drill….)

This good Samaritan in the back hoe was more than helpful.

And then another great guy, who was in the process of emptying limbs from his own pickup, asked me nicely to “let us get this for you.” 

A few things occur to me:

1. Doing anything with God takes vision. Whether it’s plowing into my past to dig up old stumps or working with His family to build His kingdom on this side, there are going to be setbacks and potentially discouraging events that bruise my trust and sprain my self-esteem.  Put the ice pack on and keep the vision…
2. …which might entail a few modifications in the original plan, method, or materials. There may be changes in timing, personnel, or any number of other factors.  It’s called resiliency, and it’s necessary if you want to keep the vision…
3. …an important part of which is looking for, reaching out to, and accepting the help of others. There’s nothing that I know of in the Bible the instructs us to be shy.  In fact, God calls us to “come boldly before the throne of grace” when we are asking for His help, which many times comes in the form of the people He put in place for us.

Jesus, the main vision-master, had plenty of bruises but kept his eyes focused:

 “Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross…” 

 Surely I can shoulder a spiritual stump once in a while.

 

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.