"Then God said, “Let the earth put forth vegetation: plants yielding seed, and fruit trees of every kind on earth that bear fruit with the seed in it.” And it was so. The earth brought forth vegetation: plants yielding seed of every kind, and trees of every kind bearing fruit with the seed in it. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, the third day." ~Genesis 1:11-13
For me, there is no church or cathedral that feels as sacred as a garden in the morning, even as we are approaching the end of the growing season here in Indiana. In a time and culture where we have become so separated from the earth, source of our physical nourishment, and each other, source of relational nourishment, the garden and the table are powerful symbols. Reminders.
There is a reason that so many of Christ's actions, parables and choice of symbols centered around meals and agriculture. First, in the time the scriptures were written these were commonalities which everyone could understand. Second, they are the ultimate earthly equalizer. Everyone must eat. Everyone is dependent on the land to provide sustenance, and no matter what our nationality, religion, or culture, we are all on equal footing when it comes to nourishment. At the table, the high are brought low and the low are brought up.
Being a part of bringing abundance to a table is a gift. Experiencing the work and sweat, watching as sprouts emerge from the earth, amazing as flowers morph into food, the gratitude of harvest. There is something divine in the privilege of partaking of what you have helped to grow, and something holy about sharing that bounty with others.
Let the table be our place of reconnecting, and let the garden lead us there.