A Review of The Pastor as Gardener: A Renewed Vision for Ministry
Easter is indicative of spring.
As I write this, the temperature is hovering in the mid 60s, it is sunny, and
the trees are blooming. We are reminded of the Easter season of the cycle of
birth, life, death, and new life. Much like a farmer sows seeds that will be
harvested months later, our faith is often about tilling the soil, planting
seeds, watering, providing needed light, and removing weeds encountered along
the way.
That is the metaphor used by pastor
Matthew Erickson in his marvelous book on using these images to help
transform our ministry work, whether as clergy, lay leaders, staff members,
teachers, catechists, or volunteers. The mission field we each work in is like
soil, and it requires the preparation, planting, patience, and prayer that
Erickson so strongly illustrates in his book.
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus
uses various agrarian images, such as seeds, planting, vines, growing, trees,
fruit, and more. In Matthew 13:31-32, Jesus makes full use of this in
describing the Kingdom of Heaven as a mustard seed: "The kingdom of heaven
is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field; it is
the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs
and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its
branches."
Using deep Biblical imagery and
excellent theological sources from a variety of authors across a spectrum of Christian
theology, Erickson makes an excellent argument that our ministry—in whatever
form it takes—is akin to gardening. Our life, like those of our ancestors, are
linked to the land—although these days it is challenging to see the connection
explicitly as it was in decades past.
By using these metaphors, like
Christ did in His preaching and teaching, we are able to renew our faith life,
acquire new tools on the journey, and extend these lessons to our ministry. Erickson
quotes Isaiah (61:3) when he reminds us that our mission is to plant seeds now,
for the fullness to be realized later—in many cases, much later.
Erickson uses strong references
from the Old and New Testament that underscore the proposition that we are
gardeners; for example, he writes Mary, Martha and Lazarus stand as gardeners
in their hospitality. “Jesus’s loving care has opened the soil of their lives
to receive, like seeds, the grace and truth found in Jesus, which then
overflowed from their lives with care extended to Jesus in return.” (p. 45)
His chapter on the polarization
and secularization of our culture is hard to argue with. It highlights that our
response to this must be prayer. Prayer is the ultimate seed—and fruit—of our
faith life. For without prayer, we have little. Prayer, Erickson posits, must be
all types and for all reasons; most importantly, prayer can help others. He
recounts a story from the late Presbyterian pastor and theologian Eugene H.
Peterson who recalled a turning point when consoling a young woman in crisis
had asked if there was anything he could do for her—she replied, “would you teach
me to pray?”
Each chapter of this book is like
a mini-retreat, full of interesting stories and useful imagery. The sources are
exceptional and give a wide range of resources for future reading and study.
Erickson opens his life and ministry to examination against these principles
and invites us to do the same.
In our life, we must prepare the
soil through how we live our lives and encounter others. We must try and plant
in soil that is not perfect, but with some patience and care may become ready—and
we probably will not even know. But we don’t need to know, all we need to do is
pray that the Holy Spirit will do the work we have tried our best to serve.
A PRAYER FOR GARDENING MINISTERS
O Lord, you call us forth to minister to your people,
give each of us the strength and courage to go forth
and prepare the Way of the Lord by tilling the soil,
planting seeds of love and faith, and
encouraging others through water and light.
Lord, help us to appreciate your amazing creation,
let us be oaks of righteousness and pillars of wisdom
so that we may lead others on their journey to you.
Give us the tools, knowledge, and spirit of love to
do the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified.
We ask all this through the Blessed Trinity:
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen+
Photo: Grape vines. Author photo, 2014.
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