My garden is a metaphor for life

Barb Miller
RR Ministerial

It is hard to believe, but it is already the end of April, and as I look around me I experience the quiet joy that comes with spring and new life. Robins are here, tulips are growing, and in the chaos of my rock garden, there are pansies blooming. (Why the weeds and the grass haven’t choked them out is a mystery to me - I really must get in there!)
But it occurs to me then, that my garden is a metaphor for life in general. So often it seems, that when we are looking for new life, we don’t find it where we expect to, but that God surprises us with the gift of new life frequently where we don’t expect to find it, sometimes even it is amidst the chaos of our lives that we experience the greatest gifts of God’s grace and the most encouraging moments of God’s peace.
After Christ’s crucifixion, the disciples were huddled together dispirited, afraid, and not knowing what to do or which way to go - I don’t believe their lives could have been more confounded - they were at a real loss as to what they should do next; and it was then, in the midst of their fear and confusion that they were surprised by the appearance of the Risen Christ. When they had thought that all was lost, they learned instead that all was gained; where death had once held court, new life has now become king through the grace of God in Jesus the Christ!
Rarely are our discoverings of grace and new life as dramatic as it was for those first disciples, but with quiet gentleness, if we look carefully with eyes that are willing to see, our God will show us that new life surrounds us, even in our moments of deepest pain. In those times that our eyes cannot see because they are blinded by our tears of sorrow, loss, despair or anger, God surrounds us still with hope and eternal love: “the light shines in the deepest night and the night has not overcome it.” (John 1:5) The night cannot overcome it; though we may not often understand the way of life, God does. Even though a bulb is encased in cold, dark earth all winter, yet a flower will bloom in the spring. Hear the good news of God’s love and grace.
On behalf of the Rainy River Ministerial - Father Dan, Pastor Darlene, Pastor Mark, Pastor Gord, and myself - I invite you to join your brothers and sisters in Christ to share in worship at whichever Church you call home.
May each one of you continue to experience the grace of God in your lives and be empowered to share it with those around you.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13