by B.L. McKIN

Created on: November 08, 2008   Last Updated: December 21, 2008

Planted In Concrete

I believe that a lesson in gardening can cultivate positive changes in individuals that are planted in concrete growing fields. The air was crisp, refreshing and filled with the prominent aromas of sweet melon, meaty tomatoes, hearty green peppers and corn. The picturesque scenery seemed to induce peace and harmony during a time of discord and friction, a prime snapshot in time as viewed from the back porch of an Elder in the company of His young preacher just hours away from His inaugural sermon. "Have you ever tended a garden?" the Elder asked.

"No, there were no gardens in the projects, just bricks and concrete." I replied

The Elder stepped off His porch in the direction of His garden and said "follow me, I'm about to give you a lesson in gardening that will allow you to grow, no matter where you are."

As the Elder towered above His plot of fruit and vegetables he began to explain how one seed has the potential of providing a lifetime of nourishment for many in spite of starting out as a young shoot trying to break through a hard tough shell, but if you commit a little time and guidance to that young plant you'll soon see that not only can it now stand on its own but it can also produce fruit, all it needs is favorable opportunity and love.

"A properly tended garden has the potential to change any environment that it's growing in." said the Elder, as he allowed a handful of fresh dark dirt to cascade from between his strong and weathered fingers like a black waterfall raining on a sea of green.

"How so?" I curiously replied.

"Well if you stay involved with the cultivating of your garden long enough to reap a harvest you'll discover that it adds beauty to its surroundings and economical opportunity for all that participate in its upbringing, a garden has the ability to actually hold back deadly erosion and prevent its environment from being washed away during a season of storms by becoming the living infrastructure held fast by the very root system that has always been there to support it.

And as I stood there I began to see the metaphor within the message. This lesson had nothing to do with dirt and vegetables but instead he was supplying me with a blueprint for reaching those like myself, a city kid planted in concrete just lying in dormancy beneath a hard shell, awaiting a farmer figure to visualize the potential and make an investment based on an expected outcome of future growth.

I believe that a lesson in gardening can indeed cultivate positive changes in individuals that are planted in concrete growing fields because from that day foreword I decided that no matter what title or occupation that I hold in life, my assignment would always be to farm. Hey, have you ever tended a garden?

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