To Bless New Soil

a resource for spring

Photo by Dan Meyers on Unsplash

Happy Thursday, all!

One thing I would like to do more of here is share some of the ways that the practice of faith weaves into everyday life. And one very simple, practical method of bringing the spiritual and the physical together is the art of blessing.

To bless is to consecrate, to set something apart as being holy and devoted to God, to good purpose. Taking a pause to bless something before use can have a profound effect on the way we engage with it. It’s not magic; it’s a vital shift in perspective.

This week, something truly miraculous happened: our dreams of ripping up a big portion of our pointless, dried-out lawn and expanding our garden finally came true, when a neighbor brought his tractor over and generously tilled up the space for us. The 30-foot by 36-foot space was suddenly ready for new life, turfless dirt lying exposed to the warm May sun and springtime rain.

I am overjoyed. Truly cannot express how happy I am. But with those feelings of joy comes anxiety, too.

What if I get overwhelmed by all this space?

What if I’m not able to truly maximize this gift?

What if nothing grows?

All of these invasive, fearful thoughts popped up like thorny vines within minutes after our neighbor left.

There is only one cure that I know of for such fears. That evening, as the sun had just dipped behind the western trees, I took off my shoes and I walked out into the middle of the new garden space. The freshly-tilled dirt was soft beneath my soles, but not unwelcoming. There were fewer stones than I expected. The earth felt ready to greet me.

In the center of the space, as the robins bid farewell to the day from the safety of their treetops, I prayed a blessing aloud over the fresh dirt. I prayed that it would be fruitful. I prayed that it would be protected from harm. But mostly I prayed for wisdom, that I would be led to nourish it, tend it, and bring forth life from it. That the Great Gardener would show me how.

A calm settled over me almost immediately, and a patience I can’t explain. I knew that this would be a year of building life into dust that had never supported growing vegetables, before. Seeding cover crop and tilling it under. Letting the microscopic creatures do their work, invisibly. This is not a season to jump ahead, but to go slow. The waiting will be worth it.

My heart is calm. My purpose is clear. God is in control.

If you, like me, have new garden spaces that need blessing, here is a tidied-up form of my own prayer for you to use, if you like. And blessings on your growing season!

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To Bless New Soil

O Lord of Miraculous Green:
 
please look with mercy upon this space,
this soil, waiting for seed;

like dry bones raised to life, 
please fill this place with Your impossible resurrection;

may every creature that is nourished here
be given vitality, 
compassion, 
and mercy;

keep this garden free from harm, 
from poison, pest, and problems;

and above all,
lead me, a steward at your command,
to give myself to the health 
and wholeness
of this space;

lead me to grow only grace,

and in doing so
cultivate good health
and providence
for everyone I meet. 

Amen

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