Awakening The Senses

This is the time of year that I can hardly wait to get my hands in some dirt. I love the fragrance that rises from the earth after it has been freshly cultivated. I love to see the carefully charted lines that cover the fields and say, "I am planted!" The trees are alive with the songs of beautiful birds, joyfully returning to their spring homes to nest. It makes my mouth water for hidden morsels of morels and watch for the growth of rhubarb and asparagus. Spring has arrived to awaken our senses.

When I had a garden, I would reach into the rich black soil and feel either its coldness or the warmth of a sunny day as I dropped the seeds into the usually crooked furrows I had made with my hoe. I would carefully nudge the perfect ground to cover the seeds and mark each row with a stake or a rock. I would anxiously await the day when a sprout popped through the soil, reaching for the sun. And real excitement would follow when I could see the whole row of green.

Last year my garden consisted of one tomato plant in a pot on our deck, and a few flowers along the sidewalk. This year we have added a small above ground bed that will hold perhaps another tomato plant and even a short row of something delicious. We will be using purchased soil. Did you know they sell top soil with moisture-locking pellets or Miracle-Gro incorporated? Time will tell how it works but I'm hoping for the best. It will be fun to try for a little more vegetation this year.

"You take care of the earth and water it, making it rich and fertile. The river of God has plenty of water; it provides a bountiful harvest of grain, for you have ordered it so. You drench the plowed ground with rain, melting the clods and leveling the ridges. You soften the earth with showers and bless its abundant crops. You crown the year with a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance. The grasslands of the wilderness become a lush pasture, and the hillsides blossom with joy. The meadows are clothed with flocks of sheep, and the valleys are carpeted with grain. They all shout and sing for joy!" (Psalm 65:9-13 NLT).

Thank you, God for awakening our senses to Your beautiful creation all around. May every tiny seed and every row of crop cry out with praise to its maker and provider, "Thank you, Father. Amen"