Soil

Some folks would call my Granny and Pawpaw gardeners, but I would call them soil makers. Granny is a soft touch on the hand that gives you a sense of comfort and peace. Pawpaw is a bear hug that takes your breath, but in a good way. These two have been making soil together long before I was a shoot fighting for light in the garden. Granny was a nurse, and this epitomizes what I know of her. A quiet presence, a healing touch, and a breadth of knowledge that is approachable in her gentle faithful presence. Pawpaw has never met a stranger. His presence is loud and fun. Never far from a joke or a memory that brings a smile. He is also a well of wisdom that seems simple at first but satisfies the deepest thirst. These two began their soil making slow with only a couple of seeds. They began on a small neighborhood plot that would soon become an Eden. 
The two of them would save what most would deem trash and patiently curated it, and diligently turned and added to it to create compost. This willingness to deal with the trash is a unique trait. Most folks run to the store and by a quick fix for their soil. The problem with those quick fixes is they can often burn and exhaust your soil. 
Their slow approach to making healthy strong soil created an abundant garden full of life. A few years back a storm took two towering oaks down and left a scar in their Eden. They cleared the remains of the tree and planted wildflowers in the stumps. Granny was clearing the flowers and let the seeds fall where they did. A few short weeks later wildflowers took root and sprouted with beautiful blooms in this fertile healthy soil they had made over a lifetime. What was destruction and death was quickly replaced with life and beauty. You see when the soil is healthy, life and beauty is inevitable.
I wanted to share about Granny and Paw Paw’s soil and life because it is the perfect metaphor for life. Our lives are planted in soil, and we are also curating the soil around us. This soil is the culture that we exist in, but also the culture that we are creating. Soil making is not a fast easy thing, it is slow diligent work. We assume that there is a magic bullet that will change everything, one thing that will make everything better. Yet, when we get that thing inevitably it does not do what we thought it would. Dedication to the soil around you is a lifetime commitment. Granny and Paw Paw have been making and working the soil in their garden for a lifetime, it did not get healthy over night! If you want your culture within your family/work/church/city to get better, it will require a lifetime of dedication and patience. You can neglect your soil and it may carry some vegetation and produce a little here and there, but if you care for your soil, it will give back to you for your care and patience. To passively receive the input of our world and culture is an option. You will live as most of humanity has. But! If you choose to make the family/work/church/city around you better it will be such a reward! 
Some ways you can begin to make better soil is pray with your family. This simple task is huge step in the right direction of building a better culture. You can also read a scripture together. I would recommend a Psalm around the dinner table, nothing too long. Lastly, try and serve the Lord as a family. Maybe buying Christmas for a family in need or going out of your way to visit some people who are lonely. These small steps will begin to transform your family. The key to better soil is not a silver bullet. The keys are time, patience, and diligent effort.