My Dear Sisters and Brothers at Christ Church,
From one end of the Bible to the other, gardens symbolize sanctuaries of God's love for humanity. The whole story starts in the Garden of Eden and finishes in the garden of the resurrection. Along the way, vineyards and gardens nourish God's people, even in this Sunday's readings. Over and over in the Gospels, Jesus retreated from his disciples and the crowds who followed him to pray in the solace of gardens and wild places. This affinity for verdant life came naturally to desert dwellers who scraped out meager harvests from arid, rocky soil.
This weekend much of Christ Church is retreating to our own garden, The Bishop's Ranch, for our annual parish retreat. Our theme is: Come Rest in the Grace of the World, and Be Free. Like our spiritual forebears, we're seeking solace from the weariness of modern life by heading to a garden. Not all of us will be able to make the trip up to Sonoma County for the weekend, but we can all take the lesson from our faith about setting time aside to slow down, notice the beauty around us, and nourish our own souls. Whether you make time for a weekend away, or just a few minutes of in a local park, I encourage you to make space in your full life to find some stillness and beauty, and to give thanks to God for the blessings all around you.
May God bless you as you wander down your garden path.
Peace,
Stephen