My friends,
In writing to you this month, God
impressed on me the many connections between having a good healthy landscape
and being a productive part of a thriving church. A new book “ A Weed Free
Life” will come out of my past landscape experiences and my current digging
into His Word. Please pray I am diligent in this work.
jeff
Blooming is Hard
Work
Imagine you
walking with a group of friends along the brick lined pathways of Bellingrath.
The azaleas are in full bloom. You see their beauty, you smell their fragrance.
The day is perfect. Light breezes lift Tanagers and Warblers along the banks of
the Fowl River.
As you and
your friends walk among the blooms you may never consider just what it takes to
bring about such beauty. For Bellingrath at least this show that elicits such
interests doesn’t just happen. Many people, much planning, fastidious attention
to detail and a multi-generational determination must be taken year-round for
this two-week span of Azalea bloom to burst forth on our senses.
William
Barrick, executive director for Bellingrath must think not about today, not
about next month but must look at the big, long range picture. You must put the
right people in place who will share your vision. This thinking must be shared
throughout the organization.
This is
especially true for Chuck Owens who manages maintenance and nursery work. For
example, pruning should begin directly after the blooms are gone to encourage
next years blooms. This must be done by someone who knows when to cut, where to
cut and how to cut. A full complement of preventative maintenance techniques
carefully blended with well timed, proven, precise pest management are
necessary throughout the year. An ounce less insecticide and the pests kill the
plants. An ounce too much and the spray kills the plants and affects a very
delicate eco-system.
Consider the
headache associated with letting the public know when to come see this
spectacle. Sally Ericson, Bellingrath’s marketing director, struggles with
knowing when best to promote one of the biggest events of the year. Unlike the
Christmas lights, the Azalea bloom is dependent on light, rain, or lack of it,
temperature highs and lows, soil conditions and much more that is out of her
hands.
For 85 years
people thronged to Bellingrath in anticipation of the beginning of spring
heralded by the 250,000 Azaleas showing off God’s handiwork. Try to apply all
this to your church and to you personally.
The time to
think through how to answer someone who has lost a child to a gunman in their
school is not the day you see it on the news and get the call from your friend.
Some might think best at improvisation but in truth, most of us are not the
Robin Williams, Jackie Gleason type of people. We work best when we plan, think
then act.
All days are
not the perfect spring day stroll at Bellingrath. Some days have hurricanes,
some months have financial strain, some years have sickness. We simply can’t
act like the Ostrich and put our heads in the sand every time something
difficult comes up.
Azaleas have
a host of problems. They are picky about how much or how little light they get
and even what kind of light it is. They are pickier about the soil they try to
grow their roots in. It can’t have too much clay, it can’t be too wet and more.
They are susceptible to a host of insect and disease problems, yet they are one
of the most preferred in our landscapes because of their beauty.
Consider
this; Azaleas bloom best when they are under a little stress. Like most
blooming plants if they were given exactly what they wanted they would look good
and healthy, but their blooms would be sparse and spindly.
Let’s make
it personal. Do you complain that our schools are becoming crime scenes? How
have you been a ray of light in that darkness? Do you gripe about the music in
the church or the lack of depth in the pastor’s sermon yet do not take time to
prepare for worship through prayer and study of Scripture? Do you relish a time
of pruning in your own life, knowing that His cuts will bring the blooms, or do
you run from God’s correction? As you read His Word daily do you make note of
how these words apply to you? Do you see ways you could, lovingly, share some
thoughts on depression or grief with one who has lost a family member?
In short,
what happens at Bellingrath seems to be magical. The truth is it takes daily
challenging work, monthly planning and a generational perspective to show off
what God has done. We need to put that kind of thought, prayer and eager
anticipation of the beauty He is working in all of us.
This month
we want to provide links to reference material dealing with learning how best to grow in your Christian life.
Here are a
few links we found helpful:
Here is a free .pdf download of Coming Back to God by Patrick Morely
who wrote
‘Man in the Mirror’.
Also, you can
receive a copy of ‘Man in the Mirror’ from us free. Just let us know you would
like it.
Fort Morgan Ministries
Jeff Sutherland
Fight the good fight
of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made
the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:12
