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Keeping Your Gardens


The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. (Genesis 2:15)

      If where you live is anything like where I live, your hometown has been debating about how to be a better place, to draw in industry, business and good people. The debate has been going on for years and nothing seems to help. For most hometowns, these are not easy problems to solve, and, truth told, most of us want magical answers. We want someone to donate a billion dollars a year to provide all the material stuff that is needed, and somehow figure out how to make everyone love everyone while still giving everyone absolute freedom.

       When God created Adam and Eve, He didn't give them the whole world to work and take care of. He gave them a garden. Eventually, man was to subdue the earth and rule it, but he was to begin with his home turf. In our more complicated world, we sometimes have more than one home turf. One home turf is where you live. Another is where you work. Some people have places they go regularly, whether churches, fitness centers, coffee shops, libraries, etc. Some people feel comfortable with a larger home turf. They might think of their whole town as theirs. Where do you feel at home? Where do you have a vested interest? Where do you see an opportunity to do good?

        When I was in Florida, I re-delivered newspapers that the delivery person tossed somewhere in the vicinity of the subscriber's unit. In Erie, newspapers aren't thrown in the front yard. It's just not a way I can take care of my neighborhood. I was a little worried when I came home because I couldn't think of a way to help take care of my neighborhood. I shouldn't have worried because it came to me almost immediately. I take a grocery bag with me when I walk, and pick up trash. It's going to take a while to get my pathway back into shape.

        I'm not telling you this to make you think I'm such a great, kind, wonderful person. Even doing good things, there are times when my attitude gets sour. I'm sharing these things with you to challenge you to figure out a way to take care of your "garden." Admittedly, at the moment, I'm fixated on garbage. Clean up your own yard. Expand to your neighbors' yards if you can. If you're a walker, take a bag with you each day and fill it. It will add to your workout. If you're a dog owner, make sure to clean up after yours. Perhaps more importantly than those, determine not to talk trash about your garden - your home, workplace, church, neighborhood, town, etc. It's not all that your garden(s) may need, but it's more than will be done if you don't do it. It will help. No one wants to live in a garbage heap.

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