I Come to the Garden, but Not Alone

 I have just returned from leading a Bible study in a small skilled nursing community. The people who gather with me have always amazed me with their faith and tenacity, and I am very grateful for the devoted, steady staff. The residents are frail, but they are usually in a good spirits, and they truly seem to believe me when I say that God is with them. Therefore, they have the confidence to greet me warmly, and I, too, am happy to see them. Today there were no mask restrictions, and as I was leaving I shook hands with almost everyone. Honestly, the freedom to approach people seemed like a miracle, and I think we all needed this little bit of normalcy. Yes, I used hand sanitizer, but even that seemed like a blessing, as if I was standing at the baptismal font.  As I said my goodbyes, John, whose words often come out garbled, said quite clearly, "Just remember, my burden is light," as he raised his hand for a high five. There I was, celebrating with Jesus.  

The photograph that is attached is a picture of a Showy Milkweed. I found it growing in a small, but lively, well tended pollinator garden on the grounds of First Congregational Church in Palo Alto. I was able to sit in the garden for a bit during a break from our conference annual gathering this past weekend. How very grateful I was for that patch of refuge of scent and color as I watched a variety of bees do their work.  

Two very different gardens, but gardens just the same. No masks needed, blessed be. As I pulled into my driveway, I thought my own garden never looked better.  

     

image: Palo Alto, June 2023