Everything is Reconciled in a Garden

Author and friend, Christie Purifoy, helps us see the healing power of gardening.

“I want to observe the ordinary things of earth—the moon, the stars, the rainbows, even the yellow leaves of the old cherry trees—and receive their messages. To hear them say what every weary traveler, every earnest seeker, longs to hear. Welcome home.”
― Christie Purifoy, Roots and Sky: A Journey Home in Four Seasons

I’ve been thinking a lot about an ancient phrase, “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear. When the student is truly ready, the teacher will disappear” (Lao Tzu).

I find myself again in the role of a student.

Therefore, teachers are appearing.

One beautiful, stunning teacher is author Christie Purifoy.

God knew I needed Christie’s keen wisdom. She helps me shift my perspective about what is essential in life—personally and, even more importantly, professionally.

“As humans, we roam the entire world. We even venture beyond it into space. The whole planet is ours, but the whole planet is not our home. Instead, home is the ground we measure with our own two feet. And home is the place that measures us. Home is the place that names us and the place we, in turn, name. It feeds us, body and soul,
and if we are living well, we feed it too.
Home is the place we cultivate with our love.”
― Christie Purifoy, Roots and Sky: A Journey Home in Four Seasons

Everything is Reconciled in a Garden

As I prepared for my conversation with Christie, I read the title of her introduction in Seedtime and Harvest¹ and then read these words:

“Both garden and gardener are constantly shifting. In a garden, after all, nothing stays the same, not even for a day. At first glance, the inexorable patterns of nature might seem oppressive. Thousands of years ago, a wise one wrote that ‘the sun rises and the sun sets…what has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun’ (Ecclesiastes 1:5, 9). If there is indeed nothing new under the sun, the the pressure is off, isn’t it? If our life is really only ‘breath,’ as the same writer claims, then let us drop our inflated sense of importance—that view of ourselves that says we must conquer the world and change the world—and get down to the humble business of quietly tending the bit of the world that lies right at our fingertips. Yes, the world is in need of changing. Enmity and brokenness are all around. But in a garden, enemies are reconciled, our own turbulent hearts find peace, and the final fruit of our efforts is a stubborn and persistent hope.”

I wonder if Christie’s thoughts were subconsciously behind the draw to join my local botanical garden. I signed up for classes like Bluebird Trail Walk, Yoga, Basket Arrangement, Zentangle, and, yes, a class on Forest Bathing.

I wonder if some things inside my heart need to be reconciled.

Putting a Period at the End of “Even Good Ideas”

And then, right at the close of my conversation with Christie, she blows my mind with these words:

Remember, just because I have a good idea. Just because I have a vision of something beautiful or good or wonderful doesn’t mean I have to do it. Even God, in his creation in the beginning, ceased creating and rested. We know that he had not run out of ideas. If God put a period at some of his ideas and rested, who am I to think I am not also supposed to do that? As someone who always can see more, it has been pretty life-changing to realize that just because I can see something more doesn’t mean I dive into it head first. That is the quickest way to overdo it and exhaust myself, which isn’t what God asks of us.

Heartlifters, I know we are high-achieving, high-functioning women.

We like to get things done and get them done well.

We also have really good ideas—lots of them.

But, there is a time (Ecclesiastes 3) when we need to put a period of really good ideas to rest.

Ugh.

I know.

It’s hard.

But I’m here to invite you to come on this journey with me.

Let’s figure this all out—together.

I’m on sabbatical this summer to rest, write, and learn to “be”—yet again.

This time, I’m taking it with a renewed sobriety and understanding that if I don’t—there will be health consequences that I will regret.

Through our paid subscription, I’ll get more personal and create deeper posts and podcasts.

Please join me.

1. Purifoy, C. (2024). Seedtime and harvest. Harvest House Pub.