The beauty of gardening and the image of God

It is a widely accepted fact that character determines whether we can be successful in mastering the challenges of life, or not. Where can we gain a character that equips us with all we need to become victorious in life´s battle? Can gardening help us develop such graces of character?

Yes! In fact, anyone who cultivates a beautiful piece of land, exerting all his powers to reclaim the beauty and fertility that once characterized paradise, will at the end find out, that the most attractive element that has grown under his labors is his own character.

And this is what makes countryliving so unique!

A major benefit of countryliving is that it patronizes purity of character. Other duties of life may call us where we are forced to face the sights and sounds of evil. But gardening enshrouds us with nature’s influences. And these are ambassadors of purity. Can a gardener, who handles God´s messengers of love, while he enjoys the warm sun and listens to the song of the birds at the same time harbor negative thoughts or feelings?

Well, actually he can, but the beauties that surround him – the sight of God's created works, the sounds of nature, the smell of plants and flowers – will attract his attention away from his inner struggles and inspire with a purer attitude.

Gardening is highly practical. A person cannot succeed in farming by mere theorizing. An application of all our energies is needed. And thus, gardening encourages many practical skills. And this makes it of the highest educational value. You can easily see this as you place your children in a garden. The daily exercise of the muscles and nerves not only shapes the child’s posture and strengthens its immune system, it teaches the child how to exercise its body and mind so as to reach the desired results: it forms his mind and adds talent within. The practical nature of this playground always invites children to do useful things. It will create an interest in fact-finding, in research and discovery! Above all, a garden will always keep the child in touch with reality – an inestimable benefit that many modern toys are sadly lacking!

And it doesn’t do so in a stern, rigid way! No! Nature is full of beauty and variety! And thus, gardening strengthens a sense of beauty, and encourages the gardener to be creative. As you work in the midst of natures unsurpassed loveliness, every blooming shrub and flower and every bird that warbles a happy song will remind you of Eden’s beauty. And this has an effect on your own character.

A major benefit of gardening is that it teaches us obedience to the laws of nature: Can you hope to be successful in your work as gardener, if you neglect to shield the plants against frost, hungry animals or extreme heat? Can you hope to reap a rich harvest if you fail to water your plants when they most need the precious liquid? Of course not. And while gardening makes it natural to acquaint oneself with nature´s laws, the attentive gardener will also learn lessons of wise care and of protectiveness.

The success in gardening may at times be challenged by adverse influences: A sudden pest, an uninvited animal or a prolonged drought may threaten to destroy the harvest. Many trials wait for those who find their joy in growing their own food. As these challenges, however, invite the gardener to grow physically, mentally, and spiritually, they also bring hidden blessings! And gardening thus trains a character that optimistically and wisely aims at a solution, and does not get stuck with a problem – whatever its nature.

Gardening invites us to devise tact and method in all our work and encourages a wealth of inventiveness.

It teaches us when to be stern and when to be graceful: As much as you need tenderness and attention to detail in caring for the delicate plants and flowers, you will need a more vigorous and energetic approach in reclaiming overgrown corners of your garden. And this lesson will enrich the gardeners character in his daily life. In all his dealings with mankind, he has learned when to be stern, and when to be tender, caring and protective.

A gardener will also learn to act at the right time – a lesson that will pay hundredfold in the struggle for victory in life´s stern battle. As you gather raspberries, you chose the moment when they are ripe. Delaying for a few more days may spoil the entire harvest. You see slimy track around the newly planted seedlings? Then it is time to act! It is not the time now to wait for more pleasant weather! Waiting for a better time to act will give the snail an advantage which it will most happily use – to the gardener’s detriment.

In placing us in a garden, our heavenly Father gives us a training ground to distinguish between good and evil. As we see a powerful plant eating away the space that a more sensitive plant needs to bear fruit, we do right to intervene and correct the lack. And what will happen, if you fold your arms and leave your garden to itself? After a few weeks, it will begin to overgrow: and usually it is not overgrown with the things that make you happy with their beauty and their usefulness. A gardener learns to distinguish at an early stage, and to act swiftly to remove what he doesn´t want to have in his garden.

And as he repeatedly fights back all these annoying elements and silently, self-forgetfully performs the complex round of garden-duties, the gardener gains stability of character. It is clear that what is right, will remain right, and that it is always wise to do what is right, and to do it at the appropriate time. A duty done in due season will pay off in a richer harvest or in increased beauty of the land. This way, gardening encourages stamina, endurance and perseverance on the path of duty. And you learn to love what is right and good, because you see the character of evil.

Gardening also teaches us lessons of industry and economy. It is seldom the case, that garden work is all that you have to do. Hence, it becomes natural to plan your time wisely and labor swiftly in order meet the requirements of the day and achieve the desired results in all fields of labor. The ability that is thus developed pays out in many other areas of life. (A beautiful side-fact: even though gardening adds tasks to your life, it adds rest of spirit too. And the inner peace and buoyancy of spirit you gain far outbalances the added work that fills the day.)

And what would gardening be without leaving us the precious boon of a healthy body? Air and sunshine and exercise will give your care-worn body the nicest treatments! While exercise improves the circulation of the blood, the fresh air serves to cleanse the blood and calm the nerves. The smiling sun will add a healthy taint to our skin. And the fresh fruits and vegetables picked from your garden cannot but enrich your family’s daily diet! All the delicate parts of the human organism will benefit from the ministry of nature. And this will be felt in the battle of life!

At the same time, the deep lessons that we all can draw from the things of nature serve to impart the highest wisdom and will teach balance of mind! Among the highest benefits of countryliving, however, is that it trains faith and trust in God. Can you succeed in the challenges that gardening poses without the aid of your heavenly Father? He will exercise His wisdom and power on behalf of all who place their trust in Him! He can send down showers of blessings when the earth lies parched under the intense summer heat. He can call the bees to pollinate the trees that are dependent on this arduous ministry of love. A gardener who witnesses the affectionate help of his Creator feels drawn heavenwards. A conviction will grow, that our Father in heaven is interested in our well-being, that He plans for our enjoyment as much as for our highest development. He has given his children all that they need to advance as fast and as healthy as possible in all traits of character that are needed to be victorious in life´s battle.

And thus, the quiet and busy life of a gardener silently yet definitely restores graces of character that are an attractive reflection of the Maker of all things – an image after His likeness. And in eternity he will find out that gardening – so full of beauty and variety – has served to develop these traits of character that made him more than conqueror in the great contest of life. Shall we not more closely follow God´s plan of life?

»And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.« (1.Cor. 15,49).

Stephan Kobes has tasted the beauty of countrylife for the past 15 years. He is passionate about gardening and loves to explore nature’s great object lessons. Ever since he has encountered Jesus, his existence has been bound up with God´s marvelous plan of life. He loves to experiment in its great fundamentals and share his fascination about God´s wisdom and power with his friends and family.