618: Life is a Garden

In 1995, I published my first book, Life is a Gold Mine: Can You Dig It?, which to date is still my best-selling book. I was so thrilled and I will never forget visiting the Christian Booksellers Convention that year to have my first book signing. I had reached a dream and a goal and I was excited! As I was exciting the convention, someone called out to me and asked, "What is the title of your book?" They did not understand my response and they shouted back, "Was that Life is a Garden?" I never forgot what they said and actually began working on a manuscript by that title in 2006. I got about 10 pages into it and abandoned the project.

Let's fast forward now to 2013. I have been seeking the Lord about my next book and had an idea for something focusing on the theology of creativity, but it wasn't coming together. I wanted not only to include material on creativity, but also personality, productivity, and purpose. Then I received a post from my favorite author Seth Godin recently and this is what he wrote:

Great projects start out feeling like buildings. There are architects, materials, staff, rigid timelines, permits, engineers, a structure.

It works or it doesn't.

Build something that doesn't fall down. [Build it] on time.

But in fact, great projects, like great careers and relationships that last, are gardens. They are tended, they shift, they grow. They endure over time, gaining a personality and reflecting their environment. When something dies or fades away, we prune, replant and grow again.

Perfection and polish aren't nearly as important as good light, good drainage and a passionate gardener.

By all means, build. But don't finish. Don't walk away.

Here we grow.

Not only is this post relevant to your and my purpose life work, it also put things into perspective for me. Life is a Garden will be the title of my next book! it makes so much sense and is the connection with that chance call-out in 1995 as I was leaving the convention floor. God truly is amazing, and a great organizer and leader as well (I know, I am not telling you anythint but the obvious). When you think of it, creativity, personality, productivity, and purpose are a part of every and any garden, whether flower or vegetable. The metaphor is perfect for what I want to write.

But as I outline and research for this next book, let me ask you: What is your garden growing? What are you looking to harvest?  Perhaps, like me, you have been looking at purpose and creativity as destinations, instead of evolving works in progress, just like a garden. If so, then picturing yourself working a garden instead of building a wall may be helpful.

At any rate, I just had to share this latest insight with you. Perhaps next week I will share with you a 10-year goal I am starting in 2014. In the meantime, have a great and purposeful week tending your garden.