Wednesday, July 10, 2019

The Wrong Garden


There’s this TV channel that features movies with titles like, The Wrong Neighbor. The Wrong Stepmother. The Wrong Son. The Wrong Teacher. You name it, it’s wrong. Everything’s wrong. So I’m calling this post, The Wrong Garden. 



It’s a response to Kelly Deutsch’s question last week: “How do you demystify mysticism?”

Short answer. In some circles you can’t. Just as in certain sports you aren’t allowed to tackle your opponent to the ground while he’s running toward his goal… try that on a basketball court or a soccer field and see what happens.

But back to Kelly’s question, which sent me hopping down the bunny trail where I landed in Mr. McGregor’s garden. After contemplating the question for days, that’s where the trail led. I don’t know why I’d dare go back there, but I did. And I can promise you, he was not holding a garden party for me. Or you either.

Please Keep Out!

Not long ago I ran across a certain farmer serving up pesticide-laced lettuce – all the while warning the people gathered around him not to eat from other gardens because of the poison. You can’t be gnawing “doctrines of demons” he said. You can’t empty your mind and let devils in. He got out his flannel board and posted a picture of an eastern guru in lotus pose, chanting ‘om’.   

He called it contemplative prayer and warned that it was just wrong. I quietly hopped off but kept thinking about returning and telling him that he was just wrong. Did he not know that long ago and far away Eastern Christians gathered to empty their minds of stray thoughts which were, to them, like snakes entering their secret gardens? That they even took up their garden hoes to chop off the snake’s head the minute they saw it trying to creep through their gates?

As I pondered all this, imagining his reaction if I did tell him the true story, I heard a voice inside saying to me, “Are you seriously thinking about casting more pearls? You know what’ll happen if you do that? He’ll take up his garden hoe and run your little cotton-tail on out of there. Or worse.

Then I heard the voice of a tiny little child parroting his parent, saying, “Don’t do that anymore, ok? No!” And to this day I keep hearing that wee voice warning me to stay away from the wrong garden.


How about you?

When have you found yourself in the wrong garden?

Or the wrong anywhere.

Do Tell. 



11 comments:

  1. Debra, I can't think of any examples off-hand where I found myself in the "wrong garden," though I have been in company with folks I found uncomfortable or disconcerting to be around. Like Peter Rabbit, I vowed never to return to that garden again.
    So love your thoughts and imagery in this post, my friend.
    Blessings!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Martha, I love how we live and learn. Heading over to your garden party now. Blessings!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Love it!
    Don't do that anymore,ok?
    I'd like to say that to wheat farmers everywhere who spray the ground with roundup before planting and again before harvesting.
    There's been an 85% rise in wheat intolerance which is obviously roundup intolerance...
    Personally I need a big sign up on FB that says:
    Do not comment on daughters posts!
    Hear it sound just like me McGregor?
    For if I do, I get chased out of that patch quick-smart...and smart, I do.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Marygems, I know, right! Those wheat farmers, do they not realize what Roundup does to people, not just bugs? :-(

      Right again, your daughter, if she is like mine, would run you out of her garden in a heartbeat!

      Delete
  4. Debra I would like to subscribe but the link at the bottow is not working... please add me to your email list for when you post? I can see so much I want to read on your site!!
    gemmill.mary@gmail.com Mary Gemmill New Zealand.

    ReplyDelete
  5. So glad you stopped by, and since I don't seem to have a 'subscribe' system yet, I'll work on that. Meanwhile, I'm happy to make your acquaintance. I see you're from New Zealand! Anyway, I'll personally email you in the meantime until I get that subscribe system in place. Thank you for pointing that out.

    ReplyDelete
  6. As I advance in age I find myself less and less in the 'wrong garden'. We learn our lessons and try to avoid as much as possible wrong people, wrong places, wrong actions.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. DUTA, indeed we do 'live and learn.' Life teaches us to avoid situations that threaten our well-being. And, too, we learn from our own mistakes. Life is an ongoing school.

      Delete
  7. I agree Duta but sadly some of the "wrong" people are close family members so I depend heavily on God's grace!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mary, yes! God's grace!!! Always sufficient.

      Delete
  8. Police are looking for a Corona church burglar. "Eminem's partnership is particularly meaningful in that he's a true sneakerhead who genuinely understands the market and is excited to help grow the community. "Our family is back in New Zealand. He ran a 4.51 second 40 yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine."I think anytime you have a quarterback come in that has thrown a bunch of touchdowns to tight ends your eyes light up," Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians told reporters this week.

    EST Monday Friday. In Lakeland, a 27 year old journeyman MK Outlet named Rosell Herrera hit two homers for the Yankees, Cheap Nike Air Force 1 who were bracing for Coach Outlet Clearance the next day, when Aaron Judge would have more tests on his ailing shoulder.. It is therefore important that you are careful and selective about the personal information that you disclose about yourself and others, and Air Force 1 In Store in particular, Cheap Yeezy Shoes Sale you should not disclose sensitive, embarrassing, proprietary or confidential information in your comments to our public forums..

    Recurring Billing. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local.. 12 and charged with second degree possession of marijuana. "She always made an impact.".

    Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has rejected offers from Washington of humanitarian assistance for Iran, the Middle Eastern country so New Air Jordan Shoes far worst affected by Yeezy Shoes For Sale the coronavirus, with 3,739 deaths and 60,500 people infected according to the latest figures on Monday. Jordan Shoes For Sale.

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...