搜索
evelynBeStillWithGodByNancyB.GibbsAlldaylongIhadbeenverybusy;pickinguptrash,cleaningbathroomsandscrubbingfloors.Mygrownchildrenwerecominghomefortheweekend.Iwentgroceryshoppingandpreparedforabarbecuesupper,completewithribsandchicken.Iwantedeverythingtobeperfect.Suddenly,itdawnedonmethatIwasdog-tired.Isimplycouldn'tworkaslongasIcouldwhenIwasyounger.I'vegottorestforaminute,Itoldmyhusband,Roy,asIcollapsedintomyfavoriterockingchair.Musicwasplaying,mydogandcatwerechasingeachotherandthetelephonerang.AscripturefromPsalm46poppedintomymind.Bestill,andknowthatIamGod.IrealizedthatIhadn'tspentmuchtimeinprayerthatday.WasItoobusytoevenutterasimplewordofthankstoGod?Suddenly,thethoughtofmybeautifulpatiocametomind.Icanbequietoutthere,Ithought.IlongedforafewminutesalonewithGod.RoyandIhadinvestedagreatdealoftimeandworkinthepatiothatspring.Theflowersandhangingbasketswerebreathtaking.Itwasdefinitelyaheavenlyplaceofrestandtranquility.IfIcan'tbestillwithGodinthatenvironment,Ican'tbestillwithHimanywhere,Ithought.WhileRoywastalkingonthetelephone,Islippedoutthebackdoorandsatdownonmyfavoritepatiochair.Iclosedmyeyesandbegantopray,countingmymanyblessings.Abirdflewbyme,chirpingandsinging.Itinterruptedmythoughts.ItlandedonthebirdfeederandbeganeatingdinnerasIwatched.Afterafewminutesitflewaway,singinganothersong.Iclosedmyeyesagain.Agustofwindblew,whichcausedmywindchimestodance.Theymadeajoyfulsound,butagainIlostmyconcentrationonGod.Isquirmedandwiggledinmychair.Ilookeduptowardtheblueskyandsawthecloudsmovingslowlytowardthehorizon.Thewinddieddown.Mywindchimesfinallybecamequiet.Again,Ibowedinprayer.Honk,honk,Iheard.Ialmostjumpedoutofmyskin.Aneighborwasdrivingdownthestreet.Hewavedatmeandsmiled.Iwavedback,happythathecared.Iquicklytriedonceagaintosettledown,repeatingthefamiliarverseinmymind.BestillandknowthatIamGod.I'mtryingGod.Ireallyam,Iwhispered.Butyou'vegottohelpmehere.Thebackdooropened.Myhusbandwalkedoutside.Iloveyou,hesaid.Iwaswonderingwhereyouwere.Ichuckled,ashecameoverandkissedme,thenturnedaroundandwentbackinside.Where'sthequiettime?IaskedGod.Myheartfluttered.Therewasnopain,onlyabeatthatinterruptedmeyetagain.Thisisimpossible,Ithought.There'snotimetobestillandtoknowthatGodiswithme.There'stoomuchgoingonintheworldandentirelytoomuchactivityallaroundme.Thenitsuddenlydawnedonme.GodwasspeakingtometheentiretimeIwasattemptingtobestill.IrememberedthemusicplayingasI'dbegunmyquiettime.Hesentasparrowtolightenmylifewithsong.Hesentagentlebreeze.HesentaneighbortoletmeknowthatIhadafriend.Hesentmysweethearttooffersinceresentimentsoflove.Hecausedmyhearttofluttertoremindmeoflife.WhileIwastryingtocountmyblessings,Godwasbusymultiplyingthem.IlaughedtorealizethattheinterruptionsofmyquiettimewithGodwerespecialblessingsHe'dsenttoshowmeHewaswithmetheentiretime.PlantaRowfortheHungryByJeffLowenfelsItwasacoldnightinWashington,D.C.,andIwasheadingbacktothehotelwhenamanapproachedme.HeaskedifIwouldgivehimsomemoneysohecouldgetsomethingtoeat.I'dreadthesigns:Don'tgivemoneytopanhandlers.SoIshookmyheadandkeptwalking.Iwasn'tpreparedforareply,butwithresignation,hesaid,IreallyamhomelessandIreallyamhungry!Youcancomewithmeandwatchmeeat!ButIkeptonwalking.Theincidentbotheredmefortherestoftheweek.Ihadmoneyinmypocketanditwouldn'thavekilledmetohandoverabuckortwoevenifhehadbeenlying.Onafrigid,coldnight,noless,Iassumedtheworstofafellowhumanbeing.FlyingbacktoAnchorage,Icouldn'thelpthinkingofhim.Itriedtorationalizemyfailuretohelpbyassuminggovernmentagencies,churchesandcharitiesweretheretofeedhim.Besides,you'renotsupposedtogivemoneytopanhandlers.SomewhereoverSeattle,IstartedtowritemyweeklygardencolumnforTheAnchorageDailyNews.Outoftheblue,Icameupwithanidea.Bean'sCafe,thesoupkitcheninAnchorage,feedshundredsofhungryAlaskanseveryday.WhynottrytogetallmyreaderstoplantonerowintheirgardensdedicatedtoBean's?DedicatearowandtakeitdowntoBean's.Cleanandsimple.Wedidn'tkeeprecordsbackthen,buttheideabegantotakeoff.Folkswouldfaxmeorcallwhentheytooksomethingin.Thosewhoonlygrewflowersdonatedthem.Foodforthespirit.Andsalveformyconscience.In1995,theGardenWritersAssociationofAmericaheldtheirannualconventioninAnchorageandafterlearningofAnchorage'sprogram,PlantaRowforBean'sbecamePlantaRowForTheHungry.TheoriginalideawastohaveeverymemberoftheGardenWritersAssociationofAmericawriteortalkaboutplantingarowforthehungrysometimeduringthemonthofApril.AsmoreandmorepeoplestartedworkingwiththePlantaRowconcept,newvariationscroppedup,ifyouwillpardonthepun.Manycompaniesgavefreeseedtocustomersanddisplayedthelogo,whichalsoappearedinnationalgardeningpublications.RowmarkerswiththePlantaRowlogoweredistributedtogardenerstosetaparttheirRowfortheHungry.GardeneditorJoanJackson,backedbyTheSanJoseMercuryNewsandCalifornia'snearlyyear-roundgrowingseason,raisedmorethan30,000poundsoffruitsandvegetablesherfirstyear,andshowedGWAAhowtheprogramcouldreallywork.TexasfruitfarmsdonatedfoodtotheirlocalfoodbankafterbeinginspiredbyPlantaRow.Todaytheprogramcontinuestothriveandgrow.IamstunnedthatmillionsofAmericansarethreatenedbyhunger.IfeverygardenerinAmerica-