Czech[ed] in the Garden

Celery stalks...

Row upon row of beets...

If I were to be totally frank. It's not what I had in mind when I came to Czech.

But as is often the case when God shifts the plans, it was exactly what I needed. My original impulse to go to Country Life Czech was to shimmer in the Vegetarian Restaurant Ministry for future reference.                                                                                             I arrive in Czech and 

for one or another reason I'm planted in the Organic Farm. Restaurant vs. Farm...Farm vs. Restaurant--just a tad different I'd say. But I've been on this journey long enough to once in a while remember that the Master knows what He is doing, even when I'm lost in transit. Still I couldn't help but think, as I struggled in a particular obnoxious patch of weeds, that I could have just as easily pulled weeds in the states! The thought quickly evaporated.
I'm not the least bit exaggerating when I say that the it was a sterling 20-odd days! I absolutely relished the hard work. My childhood-trained stamina competed with the forces of nature in one glad race. The sun, rain, mud, aching-muscles all of it rested my mind and strangely enough, also my body. The sleep of a working-woman is sweet!

There is something about productive physical labor frees the spirit like no other. Forget the rush of the RUSH or any other Fitness Complex. Give me a garden! I knew all this of course. But after years of academia, the absolutely vitality of it all had faded some from my imagination.
I wish with all my heart I had been dutiful to recorded all the insights and spiritual objection lessons that bloomed in between the beets and celery patches...suffice it to say that the Mighty Counselor watered my heart and strengthened my spirit in between the rows upon rows of dependant little vegetables.
The Farm was fertile ground for the Father's Business. Not only where there more than a few agnostic or spiritualistic individuals, but also more than a few seekers and babe's in Christ. Our impromptu bible-truth discussions took on a new meaning for me surrounded as we where by God's Second Book. Even as I remember the people and their stories and questions, tears come to my eyes. For it never seems that I have Done enough. Been enough. Prayed enough.
I distinctly remember one time. An especially eclectic man, he had recently began reading a children's Bible hoping its simplicity would lead to understanding. His observations and questions where keen. Not to be misunderstood as a seeker though, for he was still very much a skeptic. Near the end of my stay and after several stimulating conversation in which he listened intently and asked pointed questions. He pauses between a row next to mine and keeping his head bowed asks. "And who is Jesus to you?"
Oh the rush of inadequacy! Cursed be my failings and life-long inarticulateness. I longed to be unhampered by the limitations of language and experience to describe who EXACTLY He is and what He Means to me! I don't recall how I started or even the majority of the content. But I remember pausing in between an exposition on WHO Jesus is (I was immensely glad I'd read 'The Case for Christ") and switched to WHAT He MEANS...the experiential route. I noticed a reaction that had nothing to do with logical astuteness or a skeptic's appraisal. A heart awakened. No, not responding but awakened. I don't know where this conversation or others we had will play out in his spiritual walk... But I do know this: Jesus, His all-encompassing reality and love for me have never been as real as in that moment when I tried to share a glimpse of Him with one who never really has heard about Him-exponentially.

So what about the Vegetarian Restaurant Ministry? I believe in it more than ever and the Farm was the perfect place (reality) to shimmer in it for future reference. But that's a tale for another day.