The Orchard Keeper followed me about my property, surveying my holdings. When we returned to our starting place he faced me with a question. “Okay. You brought me here to your property. For years, you’ve done what you wanted with it and now you have this to show for it. Are you satisfied with what you’ve accomplished? Is this what you want from your land?”
The question was direct. Part of me wanted time to think about my response. Lots of time. Of course I wasn’t satisfied with what I’d accomplished! What did he think? But there was only so much time and energy and money to invest. I’d grown accustomed to the messy result…
Still, I knew where he was headed with his question. No, this wasn’t what I wanted for my land. Surely he had something better in mind. Why not?
Once again, he read my thoughts. “So you want more? You want to see what I can grow here?” I nodded.
In this modern-day parable, Elisa Morgan uses the illustration of a gardener tending to an orchard with an unwavering and ever-present hand to show readers that being faithful means being true to God and being true to others.
