The Coloring of Green

The greening of the JCGarden soil as the plants grow, is leading progressively towards the color of the coming harvest.

Green wheat becomes the "amber waves of grain" (click on photo to enlarge). Bright yellow marigolds bloom their sunny presence. Tomatoes brighten into juicy red orbs of flavor, unique to the home garden, unavailable at Safeway. The feast from this garden is about to begin!

It has been fun each Sunday to gather with other members of the congregation before worship to examine and discuss the progress in the garden. It still is. But perhaps more so now as our taste buds begin to be tickled. From the green of new growth comes the color of maturity...and it promises to be richer, deeper and good.

So much for soil in this gardening project. What about soul? For the garden, as sign and metaphor, orients us toward God in Christ Jesus, and offers to feed us body AND soul.

And this is happening! Quietly, in exciting ways in our little congregation, people's souls are being fed. I see it most obviously in the two lectionary groups. Meeting weekly, participants are committed to the practice of acts of devotion through the reading of Scripture and through prayer. From the "new growth" of venturing into an intentional Christian practice, is coming the color of a new maturity as we learn to live with God each day and allow him to lovingly shape our lives far better than we can do ourselves. Life therefore, like the Jerusalem Cross Gardens' ripening produce, becomes richer, deeper and good as a consequence.

And kingdomtide green is enriched by the color of hearts renewed daily. Renewed, folk engage in other Christian acts - worship, compassion and justice - and God's kingdom emerges just that little bit more in our midst.