Tend Your Yard

A close friend of mine (and landlord), recently began a house project.

Two of the largest trees in the neighborhood sit in his yard.

And with those trees comes a lack of nourishment…

and with that lack of nourishment comes dead grass.

So, in response, my friend has embarked on an impressively disciplined journey of yard seeding and grass watering in hopes of a lush green yard in the spring.

This journey consists of…

Sprinklers on before work. Re-position the sprinklers to avoid water-logging.

Sprinklers on during lunch. Re-position.

Sprinklers on before the sun goes down.

Re-start the process the next morning.

Rinse and repeat.

Discipline.

The result?

After a couple weeks, blades of grass sprouted.

After a month, blades turned into patches.

And I imagine by next year, the yard will be covered in green.

Cheers, friend!

—

However, my friend has me thinking…

As a yard needs regular, disciplined tending to thrive, so do our souls.

Not just on rare occasion.

Or even once a day.

But multiple times,

just like how my friend tends the yard throughout the day.

The story of Daniel comes to mind.

In the metropolis of Babylon where commerce, promises of satisfaction, honor to be attained, temptation, and distraction filled the city, Daniel knelt in prayer throughout the day:

“Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.” - Daniel 6:10

From this disciplined rhythm of “tending his yard” with God and God’s gracious growth through it (1 Corinthians 3:6), Daniel bore:

• Hope in exile (Daniel 1:2)

• Discipline in the face of social pressure (Daniel 1)

• Humility when honored (Daniel 2:27-30)

• Gratitude in uncertainty (Daniel 6:10)

• Boldness in fear (Daniel 6)

That looks like thriving to me, like life and life to the fullest.

Whether a Jesus follower or not, don’t we all want to be marked by those traits, too?

Well…

it’s available for us.

But it comes from placing trust in the God who grows (1 Corinthians 3:6) and joyfully “tending our yard” with Him.

Jesus says it best…

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.” (John 15:4)

He not only communicated it, he exemplified it as he lived in the broken world we call Earth…

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” (Mark 1:35)

And what sprouted from Jesus’ disciplined relationship with the Father?

Joy, purpose, soul rest, satisfaction, contentment, un-hurry, to name a few.

And He desires to graciously provide that for us not only forever, but now, too.

—

So, as my friend’s disciplined approach to “tending his yard” resulted in lush green…

and

as Daniel’s consistent rhythm of dependence on God resulted in soul fruit…

and

as Jesus’ earthly life of perfect connection to the Father birthed “life to the fullest”…

We too can grow into thriving.

But it starts with surrender to a better King,

and a consistent relationship with Him

with help from the Spirit (John 16:7 ESV).

—

So, with that…

How are you going to practically “tend your yard (soul)” this week?

and who knows..?

It may hold the keys to the soul livin’ we all long for as young adults living in a world with empty promises and unsatisfied souls.

—

P.S. consider the below practices and resources to tend your soul:

1. Books — Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, Ruthless Elimination of Hurry

2. Rhythms — during a commute, listen to the 3 Minute Reset and pray through learnings. Use built-in moments of solitude during your day (shower, bathroom, car, etc) to listen and talk to God.

3. Practices — slowly read scripture and pray it back to God. Write 5 things you are grateful for each day. No music/podcast walks. Journal through emotions/thoughts then pray back to God.

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