Winter Dreams

I think it’s important to have things to look forward to in every season of the year. Some years ago I was severely depressed and found it hard to sense the goodness of life in the land of the living. I want to share with you an edible dream that helped me while I was recovering. See what aspirations of yours come to mind as you read on. At the end of this post there’s a raspberry on top – a blurb on growing them. First though I want to acknowledge our context, the times we are living in.

Our Times

Right now the world is in upheaval. Listen to today’s Lectio 365 app message ‘I Can’t Breathe’ for a man’s powerful testimony of racism, oppression, and hope. He found his identity as a black man made in God’s image. This is an excellent and free audio app with a short message, prayer, and space to ponder what you’ve heard. Each session comes out daily and is about 10 mins long-great to listen to while walking.

Thankfully our country is experiencing increasing normality due to success in beating Covid-19. Despite this, suffering and uncertainty are realities. The lockdown has created a renewed appreciation for loved ones and temporarily drawn us back from consumerism. Many of us have fewer commitments and the opportunity to rebuild our lives more mindfully. Along with many people, I have been reflecting on what is important moving forward. It’s not been a mental workout, just something to muse on and pray about it.

Something New?

Over lockdown, have you imagined yourself doing something new? Perhaps you started doing something that you’d like to continue. An aspiration could involve; learning practical skill, a ministry, exercising regularly, study, finding a job or completing a creative project. A dream could be to have a relationship, friendship, or recover the love in a marriage. The list is endless. To invest in a dream is to believe the future is worthwhile. This can be a challenge in our world, given media stories and messages that are anxiety provoking-or at worse despairing. I like this quote attributed to Martin Luther:

“Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.”

Blu-Tacking Goodness

I am a gardener, mostly fruity and somewhat blooming. Over the years gardening has helped me appreciate the seasons of the year–an asset to one’s mental health. I have long had the dream of growing an edible garden. Ten years ago we had plans drawn up for this. Not long after, I was in hospital for several months due to mental illness. My baby and I were well cared for. I had those beautiful garden plans Blu-Tacked on my hospital wardrobe wall. I had a lot of time on my hands, and would often look at them. They represented a dream that would one day spark hope. 

‘I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.’

Psalm 27:13 NIV

In that time I needed hope for the ‘goodness of God in the land of the living’. This verse would come to minister to me. We can hope in the Father’s goodness and love with us our whole lives long. In the years that followed, we planted fruit trees and berries, many not to the plan, but it didn’t matter-it meant a lot to me. This dream didn’t pull me out of depression, but in time it brought us all much pleasure. Now as we gather fruit and eat it, I am in awe at God’s creativity and generosity. I feel thankful. I feel joy.

Winter: Dream Don’t Dread

Uncertain times and the onset of winter may not seem inspiring times for dreaming. One autumn I was feeling blue about winter, frustrated that I still hadn’t got round to growing things in the garden. On talking to an older friend about this, she let in on a gardening secret. Winter is the time to dream, not dread. Cooler seasons are the times to dream about what plants you liked in summer. It is an excellent time to research; read books, search the internet, talk to people, find prices, measure spaces, draw plans. And finally the best bit-plant if it’s the right time. Fruit trees are best planted in the coldest months as it gives the tree a chance to establish it’s roots before the stress of summer heat.

This winter we are being presented another more restful season. I know my inner engine isn’t yet running as usual. In this time we may be able to muse over our dreams in a restful way. When ideas are coming I like to jot them down or talk to friends who shares the spark. Sometimes I share bigger dreams with a special friend who may have some good advice. Connecting with friends over mutual goals can be fun. A goal of going for a regular walk may be ten times more likely to happen if I go with a friend. If I’ve lost my enthusiasm for my goal I try to review it or park it up. It may not be the timing to start an activity but there may be something to be mindful of when opportunity comes.

Flexibility

I enjoyed watching Jamie Oliver’s lockdown cooking shows. I need fresh cooking ideas. His shows were stripped back, and refreshingly real. His message was to use whatever ingredients you have to work with. There are many ways to make a dish by substitution. Similarly, changing goals doesn’t mean failure. We may need to be flexible in this less than ideal time. There are also many dreams that don’t have to cost a lot of time or money to make happen. So, dream this winter, don’t dread. Pray and brood over your ideas, processing them however it works best for you. Research, enlist support, and celebrate small beginnings as you move towards your dream. A couple of thoughts:

Q: What is a dream you have? What could be a small step towards exploring it?

Q: What prophetic words have you been given that ‘sit right’ with you and bring you joy to think of? Pray about these.

Raspberry On Top

Growing Raspberries

One summer as a kid I picked raspberries as a job with my cousins. It was heavenly; I suddenly had a dream to grow raspberries of my own one day. Some people may not think that’s a worthy of being a life dream; I can prove them wrong! Gift a large jar of fresh raspberries to a friend and watch their face glow and the gratitude for a lavish gift. Raspberries bring out passion in people. Raspberries may well have started or ended land wars. Grow your own and you’ll see what I mean. Small dreams can cost little but have a big impact. If you like the idea of growing raspberries, check if you can grow them in the climate where you live. I’ve found them easy to grow.

Raspberry canes come as small brown dead looking sticks that you plant in the cooler months. Plant them in a sunny spot and forget about them for 18 months. Come the second Summer they will thrill you as you eat them: straight off the canes, with vanilla ice cream, from frozen in smoothies or muffins. Both pics are of our berries. Raspberries make a nice end of year thank you gift. They are worth their weight in gold–literally. I’m sure you’ve seen those measly punnets of berries for $10 each. Here’s my unsponsored plug for readers who live in Christchurch. For many years I’ve bought our berry canes and fruit trees from Doug at the Sunday Riccarton Rotary Markets. He sells various fruit trees, berry bushes for a great price. Raspberry canes will last ten or more years and cost only $15 for 5 canes. He is there from this Sunday over the winter months. The canes I have got from him produce one summer crop in December. 

Some more information on growing raspberries from Doug:

8-10 plants are enough for the average home garden. They need good soil. Plant the canes 4-500mm apart in a single row or else make a bed with the rows about 1 meter apart. They like compost or grass clippings at the base of the plants. Raspberries fruit on last year’s growth. The canes that have finished fruiting die by the Winter and you cut them off at the ground. New canes will have grown up to replace them. They don’t need staking if you only let them grow to a metre high (we let ours grow high and tie them back to a fence or trellis for support). We also don’t spray ours and have had no problems with pests.

That’s all for now about winter dreaming. I hope you enjoyed this slightly different post! Thanks for reading my blog. Any feedback is helpful for future posts.

Know you are blessed : )

Bronnie