For much of my life, I lived with a strong sense of mission. There was a goal to accomplish, a vision to fulfil, a cause to serve. I carried a deep responsibility to make a difference — through ministry, through leadership, through helping others. It was purposeful. Meaningful. Even sacred.
But lately, something has shifted.
The language of mission — as noble and energising as it once felt — no longer fits quite right. It feels too driven, too directional. Too tied to outcomes. Instead, a quieter metaphor has been taking root in me:
My life is a garden.
- It’s not something to conquer or complete.
- It’s something to cultivate.
- To tend.
- To grow.
- To be present with.
Slowing Down on the Inside
Now, let me be clear — I’m not saying everyone should stop working, slow down completely, or disengage from meaningful purpose. That’s not realistic for most people, and not even desirable.
What I’m talking about is a shift in posture, not productivity.
This isn’t about escaping responsibility — it’s about how we carry it.
You can still lead, parent, teach, build, or serve … and do so from a place of groundedness rather than grind. You can bring a gardener’s mindset into any role: nurturing what matters, being patient with process, resisting the rush to harvest, and taking time to notice beauty along the way.
Gardening, Not Grinding
Over the past year, I’ve also quite literally been spending more time in our own garden. We’ve enjoyed a bumper crop of tomatoes and, more recently, an abundant harvest of pumpkins (see photo). There’s something about planting, tending, and waiting that speaks so deeply to the rhythms of life.
Watching our garden grow at its own pace — not according to my deadlines — has been a living reminder that good things take time. That not everything needs to be pushed or forced. That the healthiest growth often happens quietly, below the surface, before it becomes visible to others.
This isn’t a lesson reserved for those who are ‘retired’ or stepping away from leadership. It’s a lesson for anyone who wants to live with more soulfulness — right in the middle of a busy, meaningful life.
- A garden doesn’t rush.
- It doesn’t perform.
- It grows faithfully in the light it’s given.
And so can we.
A Gentle Invitation
If you’re in a busy season — working hard, juggling responsibilities, carrying leadership weight — I salute you. Your mission matters. But maybe, just maybe, your soul is whispering:
There’s another way to be on this journey.
You don’t have to abandon ambition or calling. But you might find more joy by embracing a slower inner rhythm. A posture of tending rather than striving. A deeper trust that things grow best when rooted in love and presence.
I don’t have it all figured out. I’m still learning how to garden my life — imperfectly, humbly, and hopefully.
But I can say this:
- It feels more human.
- More sustainable.
- More me.
Maybe your life is a garden too.
And maybe it’s time to pick up the watering can.
Love this. I reckon I changed course into gardening mode when World Vision sent me to Hong Kong to start a new support office back in 1982. I may have arrived in mission-mode, but the barriers of culture and language forced me to rethink my role. And I became a gardener. And I stayed in gardener-mode for the rest of my leadership/management positions because “gardening” is a leadership mode!
Love it! Needs to be mentioned far more often, especially in leadership circles. Thanks Philip!
Oh, so true Mark. Yes, we accept the responsibility to plant the seeds, fertilize the garden, water the garden, but God gives the sun to shine and the transition of seed to plant to harvest. And His harvest is a bumper crop!
So true! Thanks Yvonne 🙂
Amen!!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences. Being a gardener isn’t easy. You need to be patient, loving, and care. Gardener relies on the sun to give the plants and crops the nutrients that they need no matter how much tender loving and diligent care you give. God is our daily sun that shine upon us. May HE shine upon you and your family always.
Agree! Thanks Crystal.
I like this metaphor. It resonates for me. I also like how gardens have seasons – sometimes it’s a bleak winter and it’s not all about ‘going up levels’ of attainment. It’s about weathering the season and trusting God.
So true. Thanks Leanne.
Hi Mark
I just started reading leading Like Jesus: Leadership Lessons From the Radical Rabbi by Keith farmer and read your contribution. I have recently joined the board of ARocha Australia a christian conservation mission and started a sabbatical year. I was deeply encouraged by this post and your reflections, I am in a difficult season of life and it seems like a grind, like trying to help something I love survive. I was recently on retreat and reflecting with friends on the machete that is used in gardening in the pacific. In some places it is considered and used as weapon, however it is primarily a gardening tool. As a garden tool it is sharpened only in a small section and the point is blunt for the purpose of digging and planting. I reflected on how I use the word of God, do I use it as a tool that is a weapon or a gardening implement. Do I wave it around to frighten people into my way of thinking or is it a gentle invitation.
its hard to step away from this spirit of striving and control and just Surender to the vine and the gardener and simply let life grow! thanks for your ministry and reflections.
Thanks so much for sharing so honestly, Franklin. I can identify with many of the feelings you articulated. I am so glad you are taking a sabbatical. May it be a time of significant transformation, as well as genuine rest and renewal for you.
You may be interested in my book on ‘How to Avoid Burnout: Habits of Healthy Living’ where I share about my own sabbatical experiences. Information here: https://markconner.com.au/how-to-avoid-burnout-five-habits-of-healthy-living/
All the best!