Reader Request: Zoe's (not-so-secret) Garden (Part II)

Dear Erin,


I had so much I wanted to share with you about my garden, I've had to spread out my pictures and thoughts a bit. So here's part II of my garden report . . .


Part II: This is not my home

As we start to get some handle on where we expect real plants to spring up and where we have space to cultivate our own creations, Sofia and I have been hard at work weeding, preparing soil, planting seeds, and watering. 

Sofia pulling out dead stalks to make way for new growth
Child labor may be cheap, but it's not the most effective ;)

our most exciting new investment for the garden: 

our compost! 

naming suggestions welcome. 

there's so much work to do, but we have to take photo-breaks every now and then ;)

Our biggest project remains clearing out the wild overgrowth in the back of the yard. It is like a miniature forest of dead stalks, litered with so much trash that has blown into it over years. I've found over 15 balls for Sofia to play with. One tennis ball had been buried in there for so long that the fuzz had completely decomposed. It was entirely bald. 

It is completely understandable that what was once a beautiful and well loved garden plot would turn into such chaos when the property started getting rented out. I know at least the last family that lived here was double income with multiple kids, so I doubt they had any time to worry about the land they were going to leave within the year. I do not at all fault them for thinking, "this is not my home." 

That phrase is actually the main punchline of a chorus I've heard on the radio too much lately. It embodies this idea that Christians don't belong here, they're just waiting to get to Heaven. But as you and I have discussed, I recently read Surprised by Hope, by N.T. Wright, and it's really helped me view that eschatology (which you, divinity student that you are, would explain to me as "the theological study of the end of things") differently. You've read it, [or Lobsters, if you haven't, I hope you'll consider reading it!] so you know, but the point that's relevant here is about how Jesus was actually telling us that the Kingdom of God, Heaven, was present when He was here, and as His people, we are presently bringing Heaven into the world (this article actually articulated the point in a way that was helpful, and shorter than reading all of Surprised by Hope, if you're interested - or confused). When we are doing God's work, we bring about the Kingdom, see Jesus speaking in Luke 10:8-9

When you enter a town and are received, eat what they set before you, heal anyone who is sick, and tell them, 'God's kingdom is right on your doorstep!

[taken from the Message]

Wright explains that not only is Heaven here and now, when we're doing God's work, but also, when Jesus returns, it will be to transform this earth, and these bodies we live in to be like His resurrected body was here. (Lobsters, this was really heavy for me to take in, so don't just trust my notes, go through the book, it's worth it.) So what that means is, where I used to feel like, "this (earth) is not my home," and therefore disregarded the health of my physical body, or the way I treated the environment around me, I now have good theological reasons for investing in the eternal home that is here before me, that will be fully restored one day. 

I've decided to start living this out in the tiny step of investing in this home I'm renting. It is worth taking care of. So I'm pulling out the weeds and debris, I'm planting my own seeds, and I'm tackling that overgrowth little bits at a time, but with persistence. 

And to my surprise, our labor is already paying off. After a good rain, we went outside and discovered little signs of life breaking forth:

if i manage not to kill this, 
it will hopefully give us some squash

for Sofia, who LOVES green beans.

But I recently got the best encouragement I could have imagined for my gardening. Because the college owns the house, they also have technical responsibility for the yard. When a guy came through mowing the lawn, I gave him a friendly wave. He stopped his mower, and excitedly offered to give me a tour of my yard. I'd certainly found some treasures on my own, but he's apparently tended it for years and knew so much more than I would have ever figured out independently. Turns out, our house is the only fruit-bearing faculty home. We have plum, apple, and peach trees! And as we walked back toward the overgrowth, he told me it used to be this fabulous miniature strawberry field. We sifted through some of the weeds and sure enough, found these big beautiful green leaves of strawberry plants. He said these were the leaves of plants that had been well cultivated by their original gardeners. I'm so excited to watch them grow!

As we walked around back there, I was embarrassed by my giant piles I'd been raking together. I've been nervous that I was creating more work for him and his co-workers, creating obstacles for them to mow around or potentially making them feel obligated to clean up my mess [I am able to get the process started, but often get interrupted from seeing it through, due to the needs of a certain little person you know]. But you know what he said? He said, "oh no! It is just so great that someone finally cares enough to take care of these plants! I'm totally happy to help clear away your piles, I'll be back in a day or two with my truck!" He was so eager and delighted and I was so encouraged and empowered. And sure enough, a few days later, the piles were neatly cleaned up, despite constant rain.

Don't you think, what Jesus was saying in Luke was sort of the same thing? Whenever we love and care for one another and this creation He's made for us and allowed us to live in, that whenever we obey Him and do as the Father instructs, He is so delighted that we are in essence owning this as our home, because we are bringing forth and making visible the Kingdom of God here and now in part, what will one day reign in full. Even if we usually make a mess of things in our efforts, He's the knowledgeable gardener*, so happy to work alongside us and bring forth the good fruit. Maybe he's even happy when Sofia and I are out in our little garden together, loving each other while we work. It certainly helps this feel more like home!


I hope you enjoy these photos and thoughts. Thank you for taking a sweet interest in our garden!


Love,
zoe faith

Jeremiah 29:28

Therefore build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce.

*See John 20: ¹¹ Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb ¹² and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

¹³ They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” ¹⁴ At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

¹⁵ He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

¹⁶ Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).

Reader Request: Zoe's (not-so-secret) Garden (Part I)

My dear friend, and college cottage-mate, Erin, requested that I share an update on my garden. Gardening is one of the great thrills to my heart right now, Sofia and I can hardly force ourselves to stay indoors long enough to rest and refuel - even on rainy days, so I'm more than happy to oblige! 


Part I: Discovery 


I live in a house that has been a rental for some years. Our neighbors across the street have told me stories of how there used to be a fabulous garden in the back. You can see from the picture below that through a series of uninvested caretakers, what was once fabulous is now an overgrown wasteland of decaying confusion. BUT! I view that overgrowth as an exciting challenge.

view of the overgrowth from inside

My yard is surrounded by a fence that does absolutely nothing to conceal it from the heavy foot traffic that passes by, so while I feel the excitement Mary and Dickon must have had as they discovered  The Secret Garden, my garden is not so secret. And in fact, I feel a bit of extra pressure knowing that people are both watching my work and observing its results (especially the above mentioned neighbors, who themselves nurture one of the most famous and beautiful gardens in town). I try to focus on the fact that this is really my first garden, and its not even really mine, and whatever effort I put in will alleviate a visual blight of the untended overgrowth.


One month ago, I came home to this house after our Vermont trip and saw no signs of life, only opportunities for me to plant. But with each round of raking and weeding, I seem to unearth a whole new batch of colors and smells. I initially entered the garden with my own agenda, but clearly it has a life of its own. And again, I'm just getting things out of the way so the life can come forth. This winter's dead leaves layered on years upon years worth of debris that fell in the very same place blanket small little leaves, vines and stalks beginning to shoot up. Now, the yard is just bursting with eager production. 

yummy chives we snack on while we work

sunny flowers

How interesting that this gardening experience would play out in this way. I entered college such a planner. Erin, you may remember me sitting in our Cottage living room at my desk, scribbling away all my dreams and goals for my future and my deadlines for when they would all be realized. I was unexpectedly graduating a year early, and having had my life figured out ahead of time up until that point, I was in crunch mode to figure out the next ten-year plan. But ever since that season, I've been hitting curve balls. Early graduation, marrying a mathematician, not returning to Texas after school, move after move after move, winding up in Maine of all places? 


And I love my life. I can't imagine I could have planned it out any better from that Cottage desk than how it has actually taken shape. Sure, I wish our families were closer and that we had access to better Mexican food, but generally, this is great. And this has been the result of letting go of some control and instead, responding to the invitations God has presented for my life path. This is the hard but fruitful journey of faith.


I think that year in the Cottage, God was only just beginning to teach me that lesson, of letting go control, and stepping into the unknown. Having Sofia has certainly taken that lesson to the next level. I don't know what I expected out of motherhood, but I remember those first few months of her life, thinking to myself by about mid-day, "Wow, there is a new person calling the shots!" Responding to and shaping our days around her needs is so counter-intuitive to how I operate and it is so hard for me every single day, but it seems like its yielding results, so I keep humbling myself to someone else's plan for my days. I get myself out of the way so the natural little buds cropping up in her can open up and shine. 


I'll keep you posted on how it all develops . . .

Long Distance Daddy

Two months ago [I'm a bit behind on blogging about life with all that's going on!], Sofia and I survived our first week without Manny, a.k.a. "Daddy." He was at a conference in Scotland. Other than being totally jealous, it was not the easiest week of our lives. But I knew it wouldn't be, so I prepared. I had just gotten over a bout of mastitis, which really knocked me out. I was afraid of it coming back while he was away and Sofia suffering from the lack of a single capable care provider. So I lined up helpers. 

For the first night, I had Manny's mother stay with me. It is not too hard to convince the grandmother to spend a little time with her first grand baby! Let me tell you a little thing about Nora. You know how annoying it is when people leave a toilet paper roll empty in the bathroom? Nora replaces the roll before its too close to being empty and leaves the old roll on top so as not to let it go to waste. I think that's a pretty good micro-example of the kind of person this woman is. I am so thankful for her! 

We spent one night alone, which I was afraid of, but actually ended up being a total treat of some one on one Mommy-daughter time. Then my dear friend Erin arrived. I knew what I would need most with Manny away was someone who helps me to be calm and relaxed so that I can care for Sofia and help her to stay calm and relaxed. Erin ALWAYS delivers on this account, as she did when she stayed with us this week. 

With many hours of tea and talk, we caught up on life, explored ideas, encouraged one another, and recounted great memories. We also managed to get out on the town and enjoy ourselves, including our day at Point Loma. Instead of feeling strung out and lonely, Erin helped me feel renewed and comforted.

Sofia's first viewing of Little Women
appropriately took place with Erin in the room.
Please note she was well prepared, with tissue in hand!

That said, there are elements of caring for an infant I just couldn't ask Erin to help with, but that Manny does help with every day. Well, actually, every "night" I should say. I think Sofia must have really missed her daddy, because she was getting up tons in the night all that week, even though she had been sleeping through the nights just fine up until that point. I can not deny that this was rough. Manny might have gotten more than one mid-night email from me, moaning about his absence. 

One night was particularly rough. After a couple of hours of trying to get Sofia back down to sleep, I was on the floor in the living room, sweating from the heat and distress, and I just eventually broke down into tears. I looked into my restless, fussing, baby girl's eyes and begged her to calm down and go to sleep for Mama. And what do you know? She did. Right that instant. She calmed, looked back into my eyes with a knowing intensity, and she closed her eyes and slept the rest of the night. 

Manny's gals missed him. Even besides needing him around, we wanted him around. So for the first time, we had some family Skype time. Manny didn't have a chance to forget how cute his daughter was and he didn't have to miss out on the week where she really started to sit up well on her own. Thank heavens for technology! After Erin left, we had another couple of nights and days to ourselves, but were thrilled for Daddy to come home. 

So my advice to any new mothers with baby daddy's leaving town? Skype it up, ask for help, and pace yourself. I'm sure you Lobsters have some more advice for the next time Sofia and I are on our own. Have you had any good or bad experiences?  

Skype shots by Daddy