As we head into the heart of our North Louisiana summer, the sun reigns with an unyielding blaze, reminding us of our land’s thirst – and also our own.
During one sun-drenched day last week, our irrigation specialist arrived to mend the veins of water that give life to our yard. A leak had appeared near the section of the driveway that had been re-done as part of the recent Cedar Creek Road project. It was a small rupture, yet it spoke volumes about the fragility of our human-made systems.
The irrigation technician’s task was clear: repair the leak, install a new sprinkler head, and restore damaged hoses elsewhere in the network. Yet when considered from all sides, this was not merely a “fix-it” job. It was a revival, a preparation for the dry spells when rain in these parts becomes a distant memory.
As I watched this professional tend to the land, I couldn’t help but draw parallels to the spiritual nourishment we humans seek and need. Just as our physical gardens require water, our souls also long for nourishment. In times of spiritual drought, we look to a higher power – a Divine Gardener, if you will – to quench our inner thirst.
“But whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life” – John 4:14.
The irrigation specialist’s meticulous work reminded me that while, of course, he is not God, his actions mirror the care and attention our Creator provides. The Divine Gardener patches up the broken, sees to the growth of the new, and ensures that each blade of grass is accounted for. In that same way, we are tended to, our flaws are mended, and our growth nurtured by unseen hands.
As we brace for the hot, dry days ahead, let’s remember that our spiritual landscape needs attention, too. It’s easy to neglect the soul’s garden, to let the cracks widen and the soil dehydrate. Yet, the Divine Gardener is always ready to repair and replenish, to bring forth water in the desert of our lives.
“The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail” – Isaiah 58:11.
So, once again, as you often see, I have gathered lessons from nature’s bouquet – lessons that are simple, yet profound.
In the same way that the local irrigation team cares for our lawns, we are nurtured by the Master Gardener. Trust in the Divine Gardener to sustain you through every season of life. Especially in the dry season of summer, seek the waters of spiritual renewal.
During quiet moments of maintenance that can include reading the Word, prayer and acts of kindness, we can fortify ourselves against the inevitable droughts of life. Our spiritual reservoirs can be filled. They can be ready to sustain us. And then, through us, we can refresh others in their time of need.
“He turns a wilderness into pools of water and dry land into watersprings.” – Psalm 107:35
Sallie Rose Hollis lives in Ruston and retired from Louisiana Tech as an associate professor of journalism and the assistant director of the News Bureau. She can be contacted at sallierose@mail.com.
