I was reading this morning on Seth Godin’s blog, a post titled “Gardens, not buildings” was inspirational to me. He discussed how projects are like buildings, but careers and relationships are like gardens.
With buildings, one just builds and walks away—but a garden we must cultivate.
This is how we should grow our lives. A garden is not built in six months, but it is grown and developed. I thought about my life plan and how these principles can be applied. (For more information regarding life plans see link) A life plan isn’t like a building plan at all—it is a garden plan. A plan to develop the different aspects of how—in the end—you want you life to turn out.
If I want to grow my family tree—I don’t just fill-in a bunch of names and call it good. I study the genealogy and family history.
If I want to build a well shaped comic book collection—I don’t just buy everything I can find so that I simply fill up boxes. I choose a direction and aim I want for my collection.
If I want to be effective in disaster relief, I don’t just “self deploy” to a hurricane zone and start helping people. I train in particular subjects to make be more knowledgeable and find the best organizations to work with.
If I want to be an effective chaplain, I don’t just build a chapel outside the barracks. I strive everyday to build relationship and opportunities to minister to Soldiers and their families.
This is what it means to grow a garden.