Other’s Wisdom

Gardening can be a humbling experience. I get excited about trying new things, but usually fail at them. Humbling, because, how hard can gardening be? People have been doing it for thousands of years. For millennia, your gardening skills dictated your ability to survive. I fear I wouldn’t have done well!

This year I tried to start a few flowers indoors to transplant into the garden later. Thankfully, I am not trying to start all my plants from seed indoors; the results have been less than stellar.

Fortunately, I do not have to begin with a seed for most of my garden. There are professional gardeners who are considerably better at growing plants than I am. I can rely on their expertise to get the plant off to a healthy start. I can transplant it into my garden and care for it until it matures. For those of us who do not have the time, patience, skills or aptitude to grow everything from scratch, these seedlings are a wonderful gift.

I feel much the same about some Christian writers. What a gift! I do not have to struggle to answer every question by myself. I can rely on their expertise.

Hold to the standard of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 1:13

As I plant one tomato plant, I give thanks for Billy Graham, C.S. Lewis, and Charles Stanley, who started my growth. With the second, I give thanks for John Stott and Lee Strobel, who strengthened my faith with sound reasoning. With the third, I thank God for Henri Nouwen and Thomas Merton, who taught me quiet. With each successive plant, I thank the Lord for Martin Luther, John Calvin, St. Augustine, Karl Barth, N.T. Wright, these tremendous people of faith who have given me such a head start on my faith journey.

As I lower my cucumber seedlings into the ground, I think of the lessons of faith under fire taught by Richard Wurmbrand, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Bob Fu, Dan Bauman, Foxe’s Book of Martyrs. Could these hardy cucumbers withstand such persecution? Could I?

With the peppers, I give thanks for the Bible translators and Bible teachers; people like Eugene Peterson, Priscilla Shirer, Max Lucado, Ann Voskamp, and all those who have brought the Word to my living room.

These gifted thinkers, writers, and teachers have provided me with starter plants, seedlings for my garden. What a wonderful thing it is that God can plant their thoughts in my life and let them grow.

From the bed where it was planted, it was transplanted to good soil by abundant waters, so that it might produce branches and bear fruit and become a noble vine. Ezekiel 17:8

Now these plants are my responsibility. God has planted them in my garden. I need to ensure they have what they need – good soil, abundant water, protected space to grow.

As wonderful as these plants are, and so very much better than my attempts at growing from seed, it is not enough to stick them in the ground and ignore them. I need to let them take root and grow. Plants grow in two directions; unseen, they search out every hidden place underground; above ground, they spread their branches and produce fruit. I need to let the wisdom of those who have gone before do the same. I need to let the Word of God do the same.

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. 2 Timothy 3:15

Today, I am grateful for everyone whose skill and expertise have grown these plants, transported these plants, and made these plants available to me. I am grateful that my garden stands a better chance of being successful because I have started with healthy plants. Let’s get growing!

Betsy