The God of the Garden by Andrew Peterson
Nonfiction. 224 Pages. 5 Stars
Synopsis:
There’s a strong biblical connection between people and trees. They both come from dirt. They’re both told to bear fruit. In fact, arboreal language is so often applied to humans that it’s easy to miss, whether we’re talking about family trees, passing along our seed, cutting someone off like a branch, being rooted to a place, or bearing the fruit of the Spirit. It’s hard to deny that trees mean something, theologically speaking.
This book is in many ways a memoir, but it’s also an attempt to wake up the reader to the glory of God shining through his creation. One of his first commands to Adam and Eve was to “work and keep” the garden (Genesis 2:15). Award-winning author and songwriter Andrew Peterson, being as honest as possible, seeks to give glory to God by spreading out his roots and raising his branches, trusting that by reading his story, you’ll encounter yours.
Hopefully, you’ll see that the God of the Garden is and has always been present, working and keeping what he loves. Sometimes he plants, sometimes he prunes, but in his goodness he intends to reap a harvest of righteousness.
My Review:
Is that cover not beautiful?! I love the color, the style, the scene. All of it.
Peterson has a way about his work that just…hits right. My students introduced me to The Wingfeather Saga and I spiraled into his music, Adorning the Dark, and now God of the Garden. I’ve had the honor of hearing him speak and of attending his iconic Behold the Lamb of God tour multiple times. So I quite looked forward to this book.
Similarly to Adorning the Dark, there were biographical bits interwoven with musings and thoughts. Though this one leaned less into the creative process and more into thoughts on culture and creation, as the subtitle suggests. I think I may have liked Adorning the Dark better, but perhaps because I’m a fellow creator and reading that book reflected the deep desires of my heart to craft beautiful, honest stories for the glory of God.
This book, on the other hand, felt like Peterson opened a window into my soul and camped out for a bit. He’s so good at creating this, this yearning for what was meant to be. His vulnerability tugs at my heart, like a thread that connects me to my brother in Christ. I’ve seen the dark places he speaks of and felt the lies swirling in my head. They still do. And hearing his story of wrestling and clinging, crying and hoping, soothes the ache in my heart for what will be.
I’ve always loved walking in the woods. I love how the sunlight filters between the trees and fairies dance in the corners of your eyes, darting into fictional worlds as soon as you turn your head. Unfortunately, I don’t have much of a green thumb. In fact, I kill plants just by looking at them. But there are some trees that hold pieces of my heart and flowers fill my memories. I have always taken delight in magnolias, gardenias, pines, crepe myrtles, petunias, and so many more. They are the stuff of my childhood and they bring me peace.
Seeing my love of flora and nostalgia for trees reflected in Peterson’s words brought me joy. It reminds me I am not alone in this world that spins so fast. That others desire to slow down. Others yearn for what once was.
More than encouraging and peace-giving reflections, Peterson gives us insight behind some of his song lyrics. I found the explanation for one of my favorite songs that gives new depth to the song and actually makes why I like it so much make so much more sense! It was a delight to walk among the trees of Peterson’s childhood and recall those in my own. An honor to glimpse the broken bits of his soul and gather my own. A treat to receive context for his music and a call to continue to pray over my own work, over creators like Peterson who resonates so with my life song.
I quite impatiently look forward to the next collection of insight and musings Peterson offers and cannot more highly recommend this to those who seek to slow down, be nourished by and reconnect with our Creator, and bless others with our limited time here.