Just about every time I drive away from my house, I drive by a corner house on a large lot. I never got to meet the folks who lived there. But I knew who they were through others. The house was kept up well, with a fresh coat of paint. The lawn was well manicured. But it is a busy corner and often there would be lots of trash tossed onto the lawn. But with each and every day, the owner would come out and "clean up" after those careless drivers.
Towards the rear of the lot was a big garden. I always took note of how well kept the garden was. The rows were straight; it was weeded; well watered during the dry months; and it was ringed by bright yellowish-orange marigolds to keep the rabbits away.
As the produce from the garden would ripen, the owner would place a small table at the curb with a sign that said, "Free Vegetables." And soon, zucchini, cucumbers, onions, green beans and once in awhile a bright red tomato or two would appear early in the morning for drivers to help themselves to. I often wondered if they were the same ones who used his well manicured lawn for a trash bin.
Over the years, I noticed the owner of the garden was a bit more stooped. And then I heard about some health issues that came along. I also noticed the garden became a bit smaller and there seemed to be fewer "Free Veggies" on the table at the curb. I also noticed the trash wasn't picked up quite as often as before nor was the yard as well manicured.
This past spring, the garden was very small......no marigolds....no table at the curb. And then I heard that he had passed away. Several cars were in the driveway that I had never noticed before in my two or three trips of "to and fro" each day.
One day I noticed the compost pile was gone as was the pile of stakes for the beans and tomatoes. And I saw someone on a riding lawn mower driving back and forth over the garden spot. No table, no "Free Veggies" and no more garden.
This morning, nearly a month and a half after his death, I looked at the yard as I was driving by and was astonished at what I saw....or didn't see. Due to the abundance of rain and the regular mowing there was absolutely no evidence of a garden ever being there. Unless you knew that it "used to be there" you no longer would have known that a garden once graced this part of the lot. And a thought struck me.
Soon after this life is over, the evidence of all that we've had will probably fade away just as the evidence of this once large, lush and productive garden on the back side of this lot was no longer in evidence. But I'm sure the folks who benefitted from the "Free Veggies" remember. He was planting a different kind of garden through those deeds. He was using seeds of kindness along with seeds of zucchini and cucumbers.
It's a challenge to me. It's not what I have, but what I plant in the lives of others that is going to make a lasting difference. I think that's a challenge for all of us. God help me and you to plant the right seeds; to keep the trashy things out of our lives; and to set up a defense around our lives to keep the things out that could potentially destroy us; and to share the goodness of God's blessings with others.
Always in Pursuit!
