The soil in our memorial garden holds the cremains of 24 church members, the latest added only last Friday.  The bright flowers that grow in this rich, sacred earth make this time of year a delight.

It’s a restful place to sit and reflect…

…and listen to the sound of water.

It calls to mind the picture of the original garden:

The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds.  And God saw that it was good.  (Gen. 1.12 TNIV)

If your church doesn’t have a memorial garden, make plans to start one.  It continues the old practice of the churchyard — believers buried where they worshipped God.

I hope my ashes will rest in a place of such beauty and tranquility.