Come to the Garden 

Where freedom, diversity, unity, and deep intimacy abide. 

“What does your team name mean to you at this point in the race?” 

To me, every time I think about our team name, Eden, I just see me and Jesus walking hand and hand through the stunning garden.

I love this visual. As each person on our team has walked in deeper and deeper intimacy with the Father we have been able to walk into deeper intimacy with one another. This team so beautifully displays how transformation of our individual hearts can transform a team environment. 

A section of scripture the Lord has brought me back to so frequently on the race is Ephesians 4. (Highly recommend reading it!)

Ephesians 4:1-6 says,

“Therefore, I the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to live worthy of the calling you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to keep the unity in the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit —- just as you were called to one hope at your calling —- one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.” And it continues on to share about how we each have different callings and the Lord is equipping us for each of those.

This is something I have seen play out so beautifully in our team. We are a team of diversity. A team where we each have such different talents and so much to bring. 

The garden was not full of just one plant, but many plants each that bore different fruit and that was what made it beautiful! Diversity in the kingdom of God is so beautiful and creates space for each person to edify the Kingdom. We are all apart of one body and one faith just like it says in Ephesians 4. 

Similarly, I love what Paul shares in 1 Corinthians 12 about how just like the human body the spiritual body has many parts. It is crucial to have every body part for both bodies to function correctly! Every person has a role and as we come back to the garden, we get to embrace the differences and walk hand and hand with the Father.

Even on the hard days, this team has taught me how to fight for unity and to see the beauty of all the different parts of the body. 

Thank you Jesus for bringing us back to your perfect garden.