Transforming Barren Places
Grandson, Kevin fishing for "Big Bob the Bass!" 2010
Memorial Day has passed and warmer
days have arrived—a good time for planting in Michigan anyway! After buying
several eight-packs of flowers, I have spent several days transplanting them
into pots to put on our outdoor plantstands. Watching the back yard bloom and
be filled with bright colors always gives Al and me great pleasure.
For most of his life, Al has had a
deep appreciation for nature and a knack for growing things, making
improvements in the landscaping in every place he has lived. Since we bought
our home nine years ago, there has been a great transformation in the back
yard.
Originally, two old maple trees
with their spreading roots took up most of the space, along with four tall
evergreens along the fence that competed for sunlight. Al arranged to have the
maples removed, their roots dug up, the ground leveled and covered with bark. Next,
a prayer garden was created in one corner, with a gravel path connecting it to
the patio and driveway.
While visiting, my youngest brother
installed several raised garden beds by the back wall of the house, which have
produced a variety of vegetables during subsequent summers.
Being located in a suburb of
Detroit, these changes and improvements outdoors have provided much enjoyment
for the two of us, helping us with the transition from country to city life!
When we lived in Springville, California.
thirty-three years of dedicated work by Al changed a weed-filled pasture into a
completely different landscape. From the beginning, he envisioned a pond in
that field, with an island in the middle and beside it, a willow tree!
One summer his dream became a
reality, when a neighbor was hired to dig a hole twelve feet deep with his
bulldozer and water began to flow in from the irrigation ditch that bordered
two sides of the field.
That fall, we planted a Weeping Willow at the
end of the pond nearest the house. Tall reeds and grasses quickly grew around the
bank from seeds carried by the wind or ditch water; and Al even carried a young
tree out to the island in an old rowboat donated by the family across the road!
Other neighbors contributed baby bass,
catfish, and bullfrog tadpoles while pond turtles and crawdads found their way
to the water on their own. Eventually, geese and ducks nested on the island,
that is until disturbed by our last pair of dogs who loved to swim!
Al spent every spare minute working
outdoors and loved it! He installed a
drip irrigation system so that each plant and tree would receive water from our
well. Together, we put down many yards of black plastic and wheelbarrowed a
small mountain of gravel to make a path that led from the house, wound around
the pond and went all the way to the back yard! With the passing of time, the
field of weeds turned into a wonderful nature retreat.
Every so often, the doorbell would
ring, and a couple of kids from the neighborhood would be standing there
holding fishing poles, wondering if they could go fishing. Fishing competitions,
a family wedding and various parties were held there. During our niece’s
engagement party, her fiancé paddled her around the pond, not in the old
rowboat but in our newly purchased red canoe!
Al and I often sat on a bench under the shade
of a Bald Cypress, observing all of the activity, helping with the fishing and
when alone, soaking in the quiet and beauty there.
The God who created us rejoices in
all of His creation. In the beginning, He even provided a lovely garden for
Adam to tend that would produce food to sustain him, a place where Adam and Eve
could live, flourish and have fellowship with their Maker.
God rejoices when we seek His
presence and trust in His love. He changes our hard, barren hearts into ones that
are open and responsive, hearts that produce good fruit for His kingdom, hearts
that are faithful and loving, reflecting His character.
Thank you, Lord, for the hope of
transformation!
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