Gardens

A friend loves at all times Prov. 17:17 NIV

As I continue to travel along the Way I am constantly blessed by reciprocal mentoring from people of faith and people of none. On Good Friday, I travelled to the City to join my dear friend and Bishop in a worship service at her Spiritual Baptist Church. Manifesting the practices associated with the continuing presence of the Holy Spirit, the service was strongly rooted in African traditional religions intertwined with Caribbean spiritualities. This mutuality was demonstrated by a vibrant display of symbols that festooned the service. The altar resplendent in purple, tumblers of water, candles and flags strategically placed, the profound intonation of the hand bell, all raised the profile of the identity of the congregants, swathed in robes and dresses of white, with head wraps. I thought my Romanised cassock and stole to be slightly out of place, but they were worn at the Bishop’s request, who was clad in alb and surplice. The service flowed with the Spirit under the guidance of the Bishop, responding as the gifts were, and needed to be manifest. We sang hymns and choruses from Redemption Songs, solely and appropriately accompanied by the drum. These were interspersed with personal prayers and testimonies from the congregants who witnessed to the faithfulness and loving kindness of God. Naturally all scriptures were from the King James Version of the Bible and I was asked to read Isaiah chapter 53.

…He is despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief…He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth…

God was gracious, very gracious as I sensed two minutes before being asked, and then given seconds for reflection, that I was to speak on the text. There is something very refreshing in giving spontaneous words from the heart. Whilst preparation is a form of prayer, speaking as one feels led, is quite liberating. And within the context of the good in Good Friday it was a joy to be asked to give a word in season, knowing the Holy Spirit guides and protects. However and whenever the Spirit calls us out, we can be assured of the sanctity of that message.

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! Isa. 52:7

The Bible places particular emphasis on the value of gardens as places of nurturing, of testing times, of places of rest and of new beginnings as Eden, Gethsemane and the burial place of Christ attest. The purposeful cultivation of weeds into valued flora symbolises the moulding of inert clay into fruitfulness.

And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. Isa. 58:11

And water as a symbol of the Holy Spirit, refreshes and brings forth life as an ever moving and self cleansing source of nourishment.

He who believes in Me who cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Me as the Scripture has said, From his innermost being shall flow continuously springs and rivers of living water. John 7:38 Amplified.

May the Holy Spirit continue to provide waters that can quench the very depth of your being.

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