growth and regression

It only took a couple of weeks for the garden to go from glorious to tired. From beautiful to beaten. From wondrous to weedy.

It only took a couple of hours to pull out the plants that were visually offensive. Spent. Yellowing. The garden seemed to breath a sigh of relief and, having been cleaned up, now rests before the next plantings. 

And though there is more work ahead to tidy up the plot, I am not discouraged. I see the rhythms in the process--the times of development and advancement, and the times of retraction and regrouping. And as I work on this land longer, these cycles are less intimidating, as I trust that my effort and input will continue to bring the place increasingly closer to the goal of the vision I hold for it.

Not that it will ever attain to that vision, pure and complete. Here. On this fallen planet.

But my commitment to it and the joy I have in seeing it develop give me an ever-so-small glimpse into the commitment and promise my God made to me:
                                    "...He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion.."

I don't always see the progress. Indeed, I tend to focus on the weeds. And, Lord knows, I am quite a weedy garden!  But I have this promise...

​I have this promise...