…The earth produced vegetation: seed-bearing plants according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:13

Earlier this morning I was in the back garden needing to water before it gets too hot because today will be another scorcher, in the high 90’s. The snow peas along the fence are finally producing abundantly. I planted the seeds months ago because according to the directions, one can do so as soon as the ground is workable. That seemed pretty easy. And according to the cute little packaging and the graphic showing Idaho planting time, I could look forward to harvesting them in just 60 days. Wouldn’t that be lovely! Something from my own garden in a mere 2 months. Well, that was back in late March (snow was gone, ground was a bit muddy but not frozen .) It’s now August so I conclude those planting guides are not written by an actual gardener. Or human.

Nevertheless, it was pure joy to search for and pick snow peas. The vines have grown higher than the fence and set origami shaped white flowers which transformed into pea pods almost overnight in the recent heat. They dangle camouflaged on the vines like hidden jewels. I marvel at the mottled coloration of the vines curling on the fence, the snow white flowers and bright green pods and how God uses such a simple color scheme to create something of beauty. I asked, “Lord, what did you have in mind on the Third Day when you made the herbs of the field? When you created peas for men to eat? Why did you make them so graceful, so unique? Was it to please the eye as being good to eat? Or did you also know my joy this morning watching them grow upon the fence? Your gifts are endless, surprising delights.

Near the top of the vines peas in the sunlight are translucent. I can see tiny seeds tucked within the pods, like fairy babies in a child’s story book. Life was regenerating itself right before my eyes. The seeds grow vines, produce pods and the pods mature to carry and reproduce more seeds exactly as spoken in Genesis on God’s third day of creation.

I also think of the Lord’s teaching in John 15:5.
I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing.

Jesus used the illustration of grape vines and branches to illustrate that the disciples’ fruitfulness depends on being grafted into Jesus’ life. The Christian life depends on Him, flows out of Him and matures in Him. In His light and tight embrace, our nascent fruit is revealed as it matures by the Spirit. I rather like the idea of my being a branch on His vine – or like greening snow peas clinging to Jesus. That’s how the Father ordained His Garden. It’s how He calls you and me to ordain whatever and whomever we grow and tend.