Lent Journal – Day 17
 
“The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature.  To nurture a garden is to feed not just the body, but the soul.” Alfred Austin
 
I love gardening but in recent years I haven’t spent nearly enough time in the garden.  When my children were growing up I would spend many happy hours weeding, pruning, planting and harvesting; actually mostly just pottering if I’m honest.   I was no expert gardener: I grew far too much garlic than we could ever eat, and the pigeons gorged themselves on the broccoli.  But working outside, with my hands in the soil, was liberating and nourishing: it gave me time to think, to pray, to dream.
I’m going to try (!) to spend a little time every day in the garden through the rest of Lent (and hopefully beyond.)
 
“Everything that slows us down and forces patience, everything that sets us back into the slow circles of nature, is a help.  Gardening is an instrument of grace.” May Sarton