Sharon Connors: Life is like a well-planted garden

Being born and raised on the rich Midwest soil (Chicago to be exact), I could always look forward to fresh-out-of-the-garden juicy red apples, hot-buttered sweet corn on the cob and lots of watermelon. 

My family would stop at the Big Apple apple orchard on the way home from our day frolicking in the waters of Wauconda Lake. We could pick our own apples from the flourishing trees in the orchard. 

Corn fields flanked both sides of the highway and fresh fruit stands came alive again too. Flourishing life.

So many hopes are realized from opulent Mother Earth. So many farmers hopes are realized from their efforts as corn plants push through the dirt and apple and cherry blossoms transform themselves into succulent fruit.

The same is true for the rich earth of our creative, visionary minds. There are seeds of hope that lives in the fields of our mind, planted there by our Creator. 

Yet, like the earth we walk on and plant in, our mind-soil needs careful attention and, often, amending in order to nurture the seeds of our highest hopes into blossoms of delicious experiences and dreams-come-true. 

Hope lives in the center of our dearest desires. We have the freedom to nurture our hope--or not. If we do, we will harvest joy and fulfillment—a juicy kind of life. Hope really does change everything. It lifts our spirit, brightens our mood, and energizes us to move forward.

A couple of gardening tips: Pay attention to what lights you up; believe the best and let go of the rest (no weeds please), water your hopes with the fertilizer and sunshine of action. 

Editor’s Note: Sharon Connors is the reverend at Unity Spiritual Church, 10101 W. Coggins, Sun City.