A Heart Garden

Garden of the Heart: Chapter 1 - A Heart Garden

By J.R. Miller



A writer tells of an old woman who said: "My heart is a little garden--and God is planting flowers there." Every heart should be a little garden. We should keep it always clear of weeds--and full of sweet and beautiful plants and flowers. A garden spot is not only a thing of beauty--but is also a blessing to all who see it. Even a window box filled with its bright color is a blessing. God means that we shall make our lives so beautiful, that they will redeem one spot of the world from dreariness, and transform it into loveliness.


The picture of a garden runs through all the Bible. The first home of the human race was a garden. Jesus was buried in a garden. When He arose, the first Easter morning spring flowers were blooming all about His grave, filling the air with fragrance. There is a legend, too, that as He walked away from the open tomb lilies sprang up in the path on which His feet walked. It is true; at least, that wherever His feet have walked all these centuries, flowers of joy, of hope, of peace, of life, of love have grown. He is changing the wilderness, into a garden of roses.


The life of each one is a little garden which he is to dress and keep. In an ancient Bible song, the story of such a garden is told. It is not some other one's garden we are to keep--but our own. Some of us find it easier to look after the gardens of our neighbors, than our own little patch. But that is not our duty.


The ancient song further represents this garden, as not at its best. Then there is a prayer to the winds that they may come with their awakening breath, to blow upon it, to call out its beauty and sweetness. Without over spiritualizing, this prayer may be taken to suggest what is needed in very many lives. "Awake, north wind! Come, south wind! Blow on my garden and waft its lovely perfume to my lover. Let him come into his garden and eat its choicest fruits." Song of Songs 4:16


The suggestion is that the trees, plants, and flowers in the garden are still lying in the clasp of winter. We know how it is, just before spring comes. The trees are bare--but there are thousands of buds only waiting for the breath of the warm sunshine to make them burst into living blossom. The rose bushes are bare and briery and without beauty--but it needs only spring's genial air and gentle rains to clothe them in marvelous loveliness. The fields are dreary and without life--but there are millions of green roots waiting only for the wooing of spring skies, to make them rush up into greenness and verdure.


It is such a picture as this that is suggested in the prayer to the winds: "Awake, O winds, and blow upon this wintry scene--to call out the beauty, the fragrance, the life."


Is this not also a true picture of many of our lives? Are not our gifts and powers lying in unopened buds? Are we living at our best? Are our lives as beautiful as they might be? Are we as useful, as thoughtful, as helpful to others, as obliging and kind--as we could be? Is there not need that we pray this prayer continually: "Awake, O winds of God, and blow upon the winter locked garden of my heart that the chilled life in it may flow out"? The prayer suggests that only the Spirit of God can call out the gifts and graces of our lives. We cannot wake up the love for others in our hearts, without the divine inspiration.


When Henry Martyn reached India he wrote in his journal, "I desire to burn out for my God." Such a passion can be kindled only by the divine breath. The beautiful qualities of Christian character are not mere natural abilities and virtues; they are spoken of in the Scriptures as fruits of the Spirit. If our garden is to come to its true beauty--our prayer must be that the winds of God may awake and blow upon it. Nothing will bring out the life of the gardens and fields after the chill winter--but the warmth of the sun. Nothing but the love of God will woo out the spiritual powers and possibilities within us. Even the Disciples of Christ, after being with Him for three years, were not ready for service--until the wind of Heaven blew upon them on the day of Pentecost.


Two winds are called upon here, or rather one wind in two kinds of effect: "Awake, north wind! Come, south wind!" The chill north wind is needed to clear and purify the air. In spiritual life, there is need also for the north wind to prepare for the breath of the south wind.


There is the north wind of conviction. We must become conscious of our sinfulness and realize our need of Christ, before we are ready to turn to Him. David became penitent and said, "I have sinned!" and Nathan said to him, "The Lord has also put away your sin." A Jewish myth relates that at the place where David wept a day and a night over his great sin, an incense tree sprang up. Incense is the emblem of praise. The joy of salvation comes out of the sorrow of penitence. Where the volcanic dust from Mount Pelee settled after the terrible eruption, sweet flowers soon began to bloom. The ashes from great calamities, make fruitful soil in human lives in which the graces and virtues grow luxuriantly. The north wind of conviction prepares the air for noble life and strong character.


Then there is also the north wind of sorrow. We dread sorrow--but we have the Master's word--that it is those who mourn who are blessed. Christ's marvelous comfort cannot come--except where sorrow has been. The north wind must blow with its keen, cleansing blast--before the south wind can bring its blessing of love and fruitfulness. When Lord Houghton had lost his wife, Tennyson wrote him this letter: "I was the other day present at a funeral, and one of the chief mourners reached me her hand silently, over the grave--and I as silently gave her mine. No words were possible. And this little note which can do really nothing to help you in your great sorrow--is just such a reaching of the hand to you, my old college comrade of more than forty years' standing, to show you that I am thinking of you."


What a thrill of comfort these simple words gave the mourner! His friend poured upon the great wound in his heart--the healing love of his own heart. It was the richest, divinest gift Tennyson could have given to his friend. But this he never could have given to him--but for the sorrow which opened the way. Likewise, we cannot get God's wondrous blessing of comfort--His love, sympathy, tenderness, strength, healing--until sorrow has prepared us for receiving it. The north wind must blow upon us with its sharp, biting breath--and then we are ready for the warm south wind to come with its breath of heavenly life. "Come, O south wind! Blow on my garden and waft its lovely perfume to my lover."


Some who are reading these words understand the meaning of this prayer. There was a day when there was in you a cry for life which was answered. The garden of your heart was winter-locked. There was capacity, almost measureless capacity for beauty, for spiritual fruitfulness, for sweetness--but all these wonderful possibilities were slumbering within you. You were not living at your best. Your life lacked richness, sympathy, tenderness. You were not giving out love in service to others. Your character was lacking in winsomeness and charm. Your garden was full of trees and plants that had in them possibilities of fruitfulness and fragrance--but it was only winter yet, when the time for summer was at hand.


Then came sorrow. You remember the day; you never can forget how the north wind blew upon your heart with its biting breath. At first it seemed that every living thing in your garden must be destroyed. But soon the warm south wind began to pour its soft, gentle breath upon you. It was the love of Christ. It was the breathing of the divine Spirit. "Come, O south wind! Blow on my garden and waft its lovely perfume to my lover." Your prayer was answered. The winter melted, and the fragrant plants and trees gave out their sweetness. Life has meant a thousand times more to you--since that day of great sorrow. Many others are feeding now on the fruits of your love. The world is richer for your life and your ministry.


What month is it in which we are living today? We say it is October. But is it really October in the calendar of our spiritual life? October is the time of ripe fruitfulness. The farmers are gathering in the products of the summer. October means ripeness. But is it October in our life? Is it really past March yet? March is the month of bare trees, unopened buds, imprisoned beauty, and slumbering life. Is it March--or is it October with us? If it is only March, shall we not pray for the winds of God to blow upon us and waft its sweet graces to Jesus!