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Oasis of Hope, 16″x20″, oil with wax on canvas

My small patch of garden is a perfect metaphor for hope, the kind of hope that waits for seeds to germinate and sprout. My soul is struggling with all the sorrow and sighing that I hear. All creation groans, and that includes me. Where is my picture of hope? In heaven we probably won’t need metaphors to understand faith, hope, and love. But I’m still walking on earth and need a picture to help me see.

So back to my little garden. It is really quite humble and I’m still learning how to garden along the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. Gardening, like baking, takes time, and is quite different at a high elevation. This painting is inspired by three plants that absolutely thrive in my yard: red penstemon, Russian sage, and the ever-glorious sunflowers. How does this speak of hope to my troubled soul? Hope has much to do with accepting what is, and waiting and trusting for what will be. The tiny seeds I planted in May did indeed become the cheerful sunflowers that welcome bright little birds. The penstemon and sage that truly looked dead and forlorn all winter are now covered with vibrant blossoms that invite hummingbirds and more bees than I can count.

When the world’s words are shrill and painful to me, I am so grateful to the Lord for helping me plant an oasis of hope, a simple rectangle trimmed with beauty and birdsong. Come with me, and I’ll serve you fresh bread and butter, and we can try to count the bees.