Prospectors In The Garden

At work . . . or when socializing . . . or between family members . . . or strangers that we meet . . . . Are they seeing someone . . . in YOU . . . who models the Spirit of Jesus?  If there is complaining, worrying, doubting, criticizing . . . the other wonders, "hmm, this 'Jesus' thing must not be that great.  Look at the person.  They are negative, critical, fretful, complaining . . . . Whereas, here is this other smiling, positive, new agey lady teaching yoga or reads tarot cards who seems to love everyone and is genuinely interested in me . . . . "

Oh, it happens.  The prospect looks at the Christian and finds no special attributes, no love--some person who is dour, scowling, looking down on others, worrying about this and that, trying to "fix" others with spiritless negative critiques . . . . And the prospect wonders, what is so great about following Jesus?  These are the fruits?

Here is a powerful and fast tool to use attending to the spiritual garden.  The example we manifest to others which will either repel or attract them to the teachings of the Master.  If we find ourselves wanting as a good example . . . then we know that somewhere we are missing the mark within.  Something is wrong.  A faithLESSness is there.  Perhaps we ourselves do not really trust God and continue to try to fix things, fix others and doubting subconsciously whether God truly has our back.  There is some hidden doubt there and it manifests in various negative ways, which others can see clearly in us though we ourselves are blind to it.

So, sometimes, it is a helpful practice to step outside and look upon our self--to see what sort of example is there--what we are habitually manifesting.

Steadily, on the Path . . . one day, we find our spiritual garden beginning to blossom, sending out sweet fragrances, bright alluring colors, fascinating beautiful detail of flower and leaf and vine--all alive, growing, increasingly abundant . . . a place to which prospectors are attracted and want to linger, to learn more, to enjoy the Son's warm, life giving, inspiring bounty.