There is a story of a pastor who decided to hire a gardener for the parish grounds. From spring to summer the man worked diligently until one fine day the pastor strolled out into the flower garden with a neighboring priest, anxious to show off the new creation.
Gesturing toward the many different plants and flowers, the pastor said, "I praise God for all of his handiwork!" Stepping out from behind a bush with clippers in his hand, the gardener chastised the pastor, saying, "Don't you go giving all the credit to God. Just remember what this place looked like before I got here and God had it all to himself!"
There is much to be said about the teaching that we are co-creators with God, working in communion with the God who made us to create all that is good and beautiful, or working without God or in spite of God, to create all that is not of God.
When we stroll through the gardens of our lives and take a hard look at what is growing there it will become obvious whether or not we are partnering with God.
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