The Gardener's Apprentice

Faith is a gift. Recently, I've been contemplating what this means. What has come to mind are seeds. Seeds for our soul. Some of us may look at the metaphorical pack of seeds and, uncertain of what it is, say, “No, thank you.” Others might say, “I don't need those.” Some even seem to have been there on the day that God had been giving out a two-for-one kind of deal! (I’m imagining a well-kept, middle-aged gardener on the street corner or going door to door offering plain packets of seeds.) I think some people may walk by or won't even open the door. Even more, people might respond saying that they need to do more research because really, they don't understand gardening. But, still He offers… the Gardner continues to offer us seeds.

What I think we often forget is that our Father offers us the gift of faith daily. This is not the type of gift that is to be set on the shelf. Once received, the expectation is that we “plant” them within, knowing that the Gardener would do what needs to be done in order for them to bloom. The best gardens are the ones that are tended to constantly. Our soul is an area that doesn't come with a “grower’s guide” so we have to continue going back to the Gardner with, even the most basic of questions like, “How do I start?” Thus, in order for faith to take, we have to become the Gardener’s apprentice.

For us to accept the gift of faith we must have faith and believe; we must have faith to have a relationship, trusting that the Father will not lead us astray. We have to have faith to accept faith. What does this mean? Even if it is small, it is still faith. Just one “okay.” from us will allow the process to start. I think this is why so many of the Saints speak about having faith to believe, instead of believing (or knowing) to have faith. What is both beautiful and complicated is that we don't know what kind of garden we will be growing with the Father's guidance; it could be thorny; it could need a lot of weeding. “Researching” before we accept faith can get us stuck in the details, the difficulties, leading us to say, “I don't want any of that!” However, every rose has its thorn and removing weeds reveals and allows room to grow. And, the Father is the Master Gardener. He knows how it will turn out, the beautiful, lush landscape that our lives…our souls will come to be.

So, when I feel less than full of faith, that's when I need to ask myself, “How have I nurtured my faith today?” Have I watered it with prayer or Scripture, pruned it with Reconciliation, nourished it with the Eucharist? Have I sat in silence for further direction on what to do? Faith takes work, a definite effort on our part. Sometimes, the effort lies in us just being and not doing anything.

I think faith is the gift of knowing in our deepest selves that the Creator is our Father…that God not only exists, but that He will also take care of us, of all...knowing that He will provide, guide, listen. That He freely desires to participate in our lives… the lives of his children. And, while we do nothing to earn faith, we must become nothing in order to experience it. Really, this is the best gift we can give ourselves.