JEREMIAH 29:4-5 Thus say the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. [Revised Standard translation]
Summary
Some refer to the Bible as our Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth (B.I.B.L.E). Nowhere is this clearer than in Jeremiah's 29th chapter, "Letter to the Exiles."
Jeremiah was the son of a priest. He prophesized about the destruction of Jerusalem and the hardships the Jewish people would suffer because of their flagrant unfaithfulness to GOD. The Jewish people had entered into covenant relationship with GOD and had broken their word to GOD again and again and again. They had built altars and worshipped other gods. They had even gone so far as to sacrifice their own children to idol gods. The people's actions were so defiant that GOD withdrew HIMSELF, HIS protection and HIS blessings.
Jeremiah chapter 29 contains the text of a letter that Jeremiah sent to the Jews who had been deported from Jerusalem to Babylon. Jeremiah wanted to give the people a recipe for survival. Jeremiah tells the people that their stay in Babylon will not be short. He tells them that to survive they must: build homes, plant gardens and eat their produce, marry, multiply there, increase and not decrease. He tells them to pray and seek the welfare of the city in which they were now living because its welfare is now tied to theirs. (Verse 7) He tells them that GOD still has a plan for them (verse 11), but the people would have to seek and wait on the LORD. He cautions them not listen to false prophets or lies. Instead, they must work hard and have faith in GOD. Jeremiah tells the people that if they seek the LORD in earnest, HE will find them.
Plant Gardens
Today is the first day of Spring; a perfect time to think about planting a garden. Gardening has a number of benefits, including the following:
- Gardening provides healthier, more nutritious, fresh food;
- Gardening can teach children about food and nutrition;
- Gardening promotes physical and mental health; and
- Gardening can be a way of giving back.
Fresh Food
One of the problems that many grocery stores and supermarkets face today is how to get the food from the field to the homes of consumers, without the food losing its nutritional value. Growing your own foods (e.g. tomatoes, beans, potatoes, strawberries, blueberries, salad greens, etc.) solves this problem. Gardening allows you to pick and eat what you need. It also encourages you and your family to eat more fruits and vegetables because you are literally enjoying "the fruits (and vegetables) of your labor." A study published in the Journal of American Dietetic Association found that preschool children who were almost always served homegrown produce were more than twice as likely to eat five servings of fruits and vegetables a day (and like what they were eating) than kids who never or rarely ate homegrown fruits and vegetables. So, gardening fosters healthy eating.
Gardening For Education
A garden is also wonderful "classroom" for learning. Believe it or not, many children have no real understanding about how foods are grown. While many 8-year olds can send an e-mail or operate a computer in order to play computer games, many have no real comprehension of foods. When it comes to identifying where their food comes from, many of them do not have a clue, especially if they did not grow up on a farm or around gardens.
According to one British study, thousands of 8 year olds thought cows lay eggs. Some children (and adults) cannot name some of the vegetables they see in stores. For example, how many children could identify a turnip or tell the difference between collard greens, kale or spinach?
Gardening For Health
Gardening is a great way to get a good workout. According to www.webmd.com, gardening provides three kinds of exercise: endurance, strength and flexibility. Just as you would stretch before exercising at the gym, stretch before gardening as well. See, "Get Fit By Gardening" by Star Lawrence, www.web.med.com .
Gardening is also a family "sport." Everyone can participate. Competitions regarding whose tomatoes or strawberries are the largest can easily been arranged. Gardening is a great way to strengthen the family.
Garden Giving
Giving the extra produce from a garden is a wonderful way to "give back." Seniors, many of whom have downsized or reside in senior facilities or no longer garden, would not only enjoy the visit, but would welcome the extra fruits and vegetables. Members of your church, your family, your neighborhood school, workers or friends would also welcome some fresh fruits or vegeta-bles. If your office is not already in the habit of garden sharing, why not start the trend of en-couraging everyone to bring in their extra garden produce. Instead of bowls of unhealthy foods, why not have bowls of fruits and vegetables from gardens in the office.
Start Small
You don't need a lot of land, space or time to garden, container gardening may be for you. Many fruits and vegetables can be grown in pots, pails, buckets, wooden boxes or even plastic bags (e.g. potatoes). Your container should have holes in the bottom for drainage. You can use regular soil, but potting mixtures or vegetable fertilizers will feed your plants and produce healthier plants and a bigger harvest. Be sure to select a sunny location and check every day to make sure your plants get enough water. For more small gardening ideas and tips, see: "Small-space edible gardens: How to grow fresh herbs and veggies in pots, pocket gardens and clever raised beds," www.sunset.com/garden/fruits-veggies/small-space-vegetable-gardens-00400000044403 . Your local nursery may also offer free gardening classes or gardening advice.
THE BIBLE ---Still Good For Surviving Tough Times
The Bible is still our survival guide. It still provides answers for daily living. And, Jeremiah's instructions to the Jewish exiles living in Babylonian captivity are still as relevant now as they were then.
Some hardships simply do not end quickly. For example, trillions of dollars in deficits (in our cities and nation) will simply not disappear overnight. Similarly, there is no magic pill for getting physically fit. Some things take time.
During tough times, consult the ultimate manual, THE BIBLE. To survive, take care of home (your personal home, your church home, etc.), plant gardens, (exercise, and train the children), eat well (fresh produce), pray (continuously) and don't stress. Be concerned about what is happening in your city, your nation and your world. Work hard and wait on the LORD.
Continue to seek HIM! And, have faith! For those who earnestly seek HIM, HE will find!
Be a survivor.
Plant, pray and Be Blessed!
