Cultivating the Soil

“Let the beginner think of herself as a gardener who is preparing to plant a garden for the delight of her Beloved. But the soil is barren and full of noxious weeds. His Majesty himself pulls up the weeds and replaces them with good seed. Bear in mind that the minute the soul sets out on the path of prayer and service, God has already begun to cultivate her soil in this way.” Teresa of Avila, The Book of My Life (1562)

We are now in the middle of summer in Duluth, a time when gardens of all types are in full bloom. I had lunch with my friend Margaret today and she told me people are stopping in front of her house these days to admire her flowers (especially the tall and beautiful gladiolus). Sometimes when we are at this point in the summer, it’s hard for me to remember how fragile the first green shoots are when they poke up through the soil. It’s also hard for me to remember how important good soil is, from the start and onward, to the health of each young plant.

Teresa likes to use gardening images when she talks about the spiritual life, and she tells us that spiritual beginners get plenty of help when they dedicate their work to the Master Gardener. What encouraging news for those of us who are working to improve our gardens, even if they have been completely neglected for a long time! Teresa’s advice is very pointed:

Do you have barren soil? Then count on the Master Gardener to use plentiful amounts of good seed to make the garden sprout.

Do you have weedy soil? Then count on the Master Gardener’s help—the Master Gardener himself, she says—to pull out the terrible weeds and cover the ground with an abundance of good seed.

Teresa says no matter what our situation, our soil will improve with the Master Gardener’s attention: “Bear in mind that the minute the soul sets out on the path of prayer and service, God has already begun to cultivate her soil in this way.”

A spiritual garden is different from a garden outside our front door because most of us do not have a professional gardener helping us with weeding and watering the flowers in our yard; however, when it comes to the spiritual life, we all have a Master Gardener more than willing to weed, water and work with us to create a fragrant garden of fruit and flowers.

Blessed be the Master Gardener.