The Fragrance of God

The garden is a personal place of retreat and delight and labor for many people. Gardening helps us collect ourselves, much as praying does. For rich and poor -- it makes no difference -- a garden is a place where body and soul are in harmony.The tilling of fresh earth; the sowing of seeds; the harvesting of rhubarb and roses, dillweed and daffodils -- Guroian finds in the garden our most concrete connection with life and God's gracious giving. His personal reflections on this connection offer a compelling entry into Christian spirituality.

Vigen Guroian is professor of theology and ethics at Loyola College, Baltimore, Maryland.