Garden Therapy

My good friend Ellen White writes: If a minister, during his leisure time, engages in labor in his orchard or garden, shall he deduct that time from his salary? Certainly not, any more than he should put in his time when he is called to work over hours in ministerial labor. Some ministers spend many hours in apparent ease, and it is right that they should rest when they can; for the system could not endure the heavy strain were there no time for letting up. There are hours in the day that call for severe taxation, for which the minister receives no extra salary, and if he chooses to chop wood several hours a day, or work in his garden, it is as much his privilege to do this as to preach. A minister cannot always be preaching and visiting, for this is exhaustive work. {Ev 660.2}

Through the years I have found that working in the garden is good therapy for the soul. That’s what I like to do most on Sundays. And that has been a regular activity for me through the summer months. Yard work relaxes me. It exposes me to fresh air, sunshine, and exercise. It gives me a chance to listen to some helpful podcasts, and to settle my spirit with good music. It gives the Holy Spirit some quiet spaces to move across my thoughts. It spurs fresh creativity.

Because of the heavy rains last winter and a couple of trips in the spring, my yard work really got behind. I think that by the end of the summer I will have my spring cleaning done .