We just returned from a working vacation, a time to get away from responsibilities here on the home front and be challenged and encouraged in my reading, writing, and studying. However, before we could leave, the garden needed attention! We had to weed around the tomatoes and beets and hill up the green beans.
In the process of weeding, we noticed an appalling scarcity in both the cucumber and squash rows. Should I replant now?
Wait until we return from our trip?
Admit defeat and settle for a smaller crop?
In the end, I decided to replant. I put down more seeds in the empty spaces, watered them well, and then closed the garden gate. I knew that we would not be here to water the seeds or tend to the garden at all. We took the risk of sowing when the seed might be blown away or washed out in a summer rainstorm.
One great gift of gardening is the constant affirmation of how little control we actually have over the successful sprouting of our garden seeds—and of everything we “sow” in this life.
One great gift of gardening is the constant affirmation of how little control we actually have over the successful sprouting of our garden seeds—and of everything we “sow” in this life.
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Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes from a mournful state of mind, but the Spirit guided him into some good words for gardeners:
He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap… In the morning sow your seed, and at evening withhold not your hand, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.” (Ecclesiastes 11:4,6)
I could have waited until we returned from our trip to replant, a choice that would have enabled me to “observe the wind” and “regard the clouds” every single day. Even so, I would still not have been in control of the seed-growing process. And I am not in control of many things, including the results of my writing, parenting, or teaching.
Upon returning from our travels, I was delighted to find tiny squash seedlings pushing their way through the garden soil. This invitation in Ecclesiastes to “withhold not my hand” tells me, “Get on with it!” It is a push toward risk for this exceedingly careful woman.
God’s freeing words insist that I change my questions:
“What if it doesn’t work?” becomes “What if God grants success?”
“What if I fail?” becomes “What can God accomplish here?”
“What if it’s embarrassing?” can be safely reframed as “This is not about me.”
In our praying, in our ministry, in our service to others, may we never allow our perfectionistic tendencies to interfere with sowing our seed. Don’t wait for the ideal time to make the phone call, send the text, share the gospel, or write the article. Strike while the iron is cold—and then trust God for the harvest.
Holding You in the Light,
Don’t wait for the ideal time to make the phone call, send the text, share the gospel, or write the article. Strike while the iron is cold—and then trust God for the harvest.
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I wrestle with things like this, too. I don’t think it’s always due to perfectionism. Someone has coined the term “analysis paralysis” for when there are a number of options and we have a hard time determining what to do. Evidently I did that even as a child–I can remember my mom sometimes telling me, “Do something even if it is wrong.” Not that she wanted me to do wrong. 🙂 But sometimes we just need to take an action even if we’re not sure of the best one. The book Don’t Overthink It by Anne Bogel was a big help to me there.
But often it comes down to the same thing–I don’t know the answer to all the “what ifs” and have to make the best decision with what information I have, trusting God’s guidance and leading.
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Wow, do I ever feel the term “analysis paralysis.” Especially in situations where there’s really no “correct” or “best” option. I like your mindset: “make the best decision with what information I have, trusting God’s guidance and leading.” That last phrase it what makes it work.
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“Analysis Paralysis” a competency used in my reviews for me (mostly true, except when it was used too freely!), and one I used for others. Know it well!
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It’s everywhere, and our culture does nothing to set us free. We need the Lord!
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Yes we do!
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Every Monday morning needs an encouraging, “Get on with it” message! My tomatoes in one space are not thriving–I am thinking I need to cut down a tree that sprung up that my husband became particularly fond of but the garden is suffering! This is just the push today to get going (Maybe not on the tree yet, though).
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Oh, those jobs that need doing and we can’t do them ourselves… Eventually, we learn to be patient.
It’s so good that you know the truth that we’re really the only ones we can “push” without being obnoxious.
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I love this, Michele: “Strike while the iron is cold—and then trust God for the harvest.” I need to do this, for sure. Your gardening story reminds me of current events in my own yard. We just had our pool filled in, after months of delays due to excessive rain. We were hoping it would be done before prime grass-growing season ended here in Kansas. But here we are, in early July, with half a yard full of grass seed. Definitely not the recommended time to grow grass. So we water and pray and trust that God will provide the grass, either now or when we redo it in the fall.
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Timing is EVERYTHING! And summer is a season-long object lesson in the truth that we just don’t have control over much. Blessings on your Kansas garden!
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I like this. It can be important to take action and not wait for a perfect moment that may never come.
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I needed this – ““Get on with it!” It is a push toward risk for this exceedingly careful woman.” Just last night my husband made the comment that I am not a risk taker. The perfect moment may not come or it may just be that it is right in front of us but we don’t see it as such. May I trust God and His timing.
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I used the word “exceedingly” with intent because I know that recklessness is not God’s plan for us, but then there’s the other end of the spectrum, and I’m sure that I am risk aversive to a fault. I guess we both need to trust for grace to step into the unseen as God leads.
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LOVE those reframed questions you offered. Perspective is such an important influence on our minds, emotions, and spirits. ‘Think I’ll start a list of such questions–the ones that come readily to mind like, “What if I mess up?” and the questions I should be asking, like “What might God accomplish–even if I do?” By reviewing them now and then I can recalibrate my perspective. Over time, I can see such a practice becoming habitual–without aid of a list. Thank you, Michele!
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I can’t begin to count how many times you’ve creatively suggested ways to expand on a practice or a concept here, Nancy. Your fruitful mind is a gift that you share for the benefit of us all! We definitely need a daily recalibration of our perspective.
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I really thought you were going to go with a procrastination theme here but in watching Alec with his garden this year I am learning that is a whole lot of “let’s see what happens!”
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Oh, it’s so true! If I were to insist upon 100% success before I agreed to plant each spring, I’d never have planted a single seed! We are definitely in partnership with God in this business!
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“In our praying, in our ministry, in our service to others, may we never allow our perfectionistic tendencies to interfere with sowing our seed. Don’t wait for the ideal time to make the phone call, send the text, share the gospel, or write the article. Strike while the iron is cold—and then trust God for the harvest.”
Love this!
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I’m preaching to myself, Rosie. I have a history of waiting for “just the right” ___________ before I act. And then, maybe the action never follows…
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Me too! And it’s what shows up in my posts too, more note to self than anything else! If it’s in there, it’s because I need the reminder, learned something because of it, and am still learning it!
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Always learning…
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I’ve found this is usually easy to say and often not so easy to do! It’s one of my ill-founded excuses for my tendency to procrastinate – I’m waiting for just the right circumstance before I start or act. But I’m called to be obedient and faithful when God gives me an instruction, not to produce a result or to be responsible for anyone else’s actions, so I love the reframing opportunities you suggested. I’ll try to remember those!
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You’ve really put your finger on one big obstacle to obedience—being overly concerned with results. So often I have to remind myself that God is in charge of the results. My job is obedience.
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