In the Garden~ a Life of Prayer

I have recently read a book about Teresa of Avila (1515-1582), a woman who was called Teresa of Jesus because of her passionate love for her Savior. She speaks about her life of God in an analogy & I am going to share straight from her analogy.

She speaks about her life of God in an analolgy of a garden already planted, but one in which the plants will die unless they are tended and watered carefully. Nurturing can be done in 4 ways:
1) there is the laborious work of carefully drawing water from the well, 2) slightly easier method of using a waterwheel and buckets, 3) a stream runs through the garden, saturating the ground from beneath, & 4) rain~ the natural source of water; it comes from heaven above.

The beginner in prayer toils, fetching water from the well. The effort is entirely his, as he attempts to fill the bucket with water and replenish the flowers of the garden. The privelege of seeing the arid land blossom will produce humility and endurance that will cause his soul to richly prosper.

In the second stage, the gardener uses a waterwheel & buckets. He can draw more water for the garden than before with much less effort if the long hours required do not become wearisome. This second stage can be a time of trial, when weeding & pruning is being done to the soul. Effort is still necessary, but the place of striving eases and receptivity is better understood.

The third stage of prayer is when the Lord is more active, providing water by a spring or stream running through the garden. There is now no question of turning back, the delight is too sweet; it is a glorious folly, a heavenly madness in which true wisdom is acquired. This is when "mary & martha" are in perfect harmony, though not yet entirely absorbed into God. The soul is free from worries and becomes content. God is now the gardener and the supply of water is abundant.

The last stage of the call to prayer is where the garden is watered by rain and the gardener has nothing to do but to watch the flowers grow. The rain brings a union about from Heaven itself. Here you know God. The sensation is of an exceeding great and sweet delight. The story of an intimate friendship with God; this is the inner courts of the Lord. This authentic inward journey should lead to empowered outward works (where "mary & martha" are wedded together).