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Stories

There In God's Garden

Posted by Dick Carlson on

A time like this is a reminder of how our sacred texts and hymns are anchors in the midst of our daily circumstances.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the hymn There in God’s Garden - #342 in our ELW Hymnal. The scriptural sweep of this text is breathtaking, moving from Genesis to Revelation in the opening lines. It begins with reference to the Garden of Eden, with all kinds of trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food, with the tree of life also in the midst of the garden - There in God’s Garden stands the Tree of Wisdom, Genesis 2:9.

The next line takes us to the last chapter of the Bible, in a description not of a garden, but of a city with the tree of life somehow on either side of the river of the water of life, whose leaves hold forth the healing of the nations, Revelation 22:2.

Within this amazing Story of God’s love in the Bible, could it be that in this tree of life (the wisdom of God) its leaves hold forth healing of the nations? --- the Fruits of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

I was blessed with a moment of inspiration – the fruit of the Spirit –recently in an ordinary everyday encounter with another person.

I was coming home from my walk when I met a neighbor, Marina, who was walking her little dog. We talked briefly in the street about “this time” and we resonated with our concerns and common search – including wondering how the trees were doing this time? The next morning in our mailbox was a note from Marina and a poem she wanted to share with me.

I showed it to my wife Carolyn, we were deeply moved, and I want to share it with you.

– Dick Carlson

 

Pandemic

Lynn Ungar 3/11/20 

What if you thought of it
as the Jews consider the Sabbath—
the most sacred of times?
Cease from travel.
Cease from buying and selling.
Give up, just for now, 
on trying to make the world
different than it is. 
Sing. Pray. Touch only those
to whom you commit your life.
Center down. 

And when your body has become still,
reach out with your heart.
Know that we are connected
in ways that are terrifying and beautiful.
(You could hardly deny it now.)
Know that our lives
are in one another’s hands.
(Surely, that has come clear.)
Do not reach out your hands.
Reach out your heart.
Reach out your words.
Reach out all the tendrils
of compassion that move, invisibly,
where we cannot touch.

Promise this world your love–
for better or for worse,
in sickness and in health,
so long as we all shall live. 

PRAYER:

God of wisdom and healing,

Thank you for your garden of graciousness and your calling all creation into the community of love. May the Fruits of the Spirit be inspirations of sharing for our healing and the healing of the nations. Amen

 

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