HOME AND GARDEN

A house becomes a home   When folk make it their own   A garden fine brings pleasure forth   Christ is a home and garden Lord

Spirituality is an idea with many descriptions. I prefer a simple approach that is nothing special and relevant in everyday living. A kind of home and garden spirituality.

Transcript

Home and Garden

Hello, it’s Michael. Shalom to you! What might a home and garden spirituality be like? Let’s have a look.

A friend of mine asked what approach I would take with my podcast. It would be a home and garden way of talking about Christian living, I told him. The ways of God work best when kept down to earth. He nodded in understanding.

‘House and Garden’, in the vernacular, alludes to basic and ordinary. A rather decent description of everyday Christian living. In many ways there is little special about it. Mostly, I have learned how to be a Christian not from the spiritual stuff, but from how to respond to what is facing me, in ways that would please the Lord. I feel at home with Jesus, every day.

A little poem

A house becomes a home

When folk make it their own

A garden fine brings pleasures forth

Christ is a home and garden Lord

Mine is a ‘home and garden’ spirituality. I find Jesus down to earth; relational rather than religious. I appreciate the wisdom and insights to be found in Christian tradition. I have come to recognise its shortcomings as well and learned from it. I find the immediate presence of the Holy Spirit in my soul most energising. That sense of being prompted in getting it right while going about my business. That sense of my spiritual garden growing, with progressively weeds being pulled and flowers in bloom. In no way do I feel all bubbly about this. My sensing is a quiet conviction that the Lord is always present and involved.

It is often thought that being a Christian is rather demanding. That church is a hassle and better avoided. Church will have its problems. That’s a given. But Jesus is not the Church. In fact, he often was at loggerheads with religious authority. His presence in a believer’s life depends not on church, nor on spiritual exercises for him to connect. ‘I stand at the door and knock,’ he said. The Lord likes homes and gardens. The ordinary and the every day. 

Let’s mention a few home and garden truths, nothing exceptional but with a certain focus. In seeking to be like Jesus I must try to be kind, patient and forgiving. I must practise self-control and humility. Empathy and charity are fine qualities to express as well. You can probably add a few others that involve decent living. None of these qualities are religious in nature. Anyone may succeed in them. 

Having Jesus at home in my soul brings wellbeing. I enjoy life in spite of its struggles and find satisfaction in making the best of it. I have my down moments at times but will soldier on. I know this to please the Lord. Every day with Jesus to me means living considerately. My friend understood it well, when I mentioned a ‘home and garden’ spirituality. Nothing that spiritual, like garden that will grow when water is found. 

Keep it simple – keep it focused. I wish you well! 

***

Always look on the Light side of life and call on the Lord.

Download free ebooks via the link adbooks.online

Why not tell a friend?