A friend of mine said her garden looked sad in a particular corner that was shaded. No blooms, even though there were blooms abundant elsewhere in the garden.
I have a sad corner too. My therapist and I are having an extensive quarrel about this matter. This otherwise excellent therapist wants to know why I am so resigned to so much. I respond, “Because I am.” I am a gardener too. Some of my plants grow. Most don’t. I can’t believe I am still fighting for abortions or common sense. Why not resignation?
Then he expected it to produce good grapes, but it produced only worthless ones. – Isaiah 5:2b (NASB)
We can receive 49 compliments and 1 complaint about our work, and we’ll remember the 1 over the 49. Psychologists call this the negative bias.
The early writing of Isaiah about vineyards resembles negative bias. The vineyard produces poor fruit once, and the gardener concludes the entire vineyard is worthless.
When are we guilty of negative bias? What if some things are just plain wrong and worthless?
I suggested to my friend that life is a seasonal operation, blooms following fallow following blooms. Sometimes it is too hot and other times too cold. Seasons disappoint.
What if there is another kind of response to seasons? In which the shade gets some appreciation too. Or failure becomes ordinary, like bad grapes. Or fallow is less feared. I don’t know. Isaiah became more positive too as his chapters continued.
Prayer
Make us less afraid of sorrow, O God, and refuse to confirm our negative bias. Grant us a full-seasoned, well-chaptered life. Amen
About the Author
Donna Schaper is Interim Minister at the United Congregational Church of Little Compton. Her latest book is Remove the Pews.