Sometimes, the most beautiful gardens are those that God Himself prunes… perhaps that makes us all “gardens”.

I haven’t been as attentive here on Flickr over the last couple of months as Joyce and I have spent an inordinate amount of time and effort to help kick off the Alpha Marriage Course from our church. That included preparing for and cooking dinner each week for upwards of 50 adults. While I love to cook, that’s been a huge undertaking each week… but it has been well worth the effort.

You can find information concerning the course here: us.alphausa.org/Groups/1000056818/The_Marriage_Course.asp... If there is such a course near you, please check it out. Here’s how I presented it to our church so that others could help to facilitate it: There were times during Jesus’ earthly ministry that He told those He had miraculously healed to spread the news… but there were other times, like when He healed the leper as described in Mark 1:40-45, that He instructed him to tell no one. There was a reason why He did that, yet in my mind, He knows exactly who we are, right down to the core… He knew there was no way the leper would keep that secret.

There are two ways to keep secrets that I know of: either tell no one your secret, or tell everyone, then tell them you were kidding… but what do you do when you have the best kept secret that you never wanted to be secret in the first place? Pastor Dave Dunderdale has spoken of it to the congregation… Margaret Frothingham highlights it from the pulpit during announcements… we all have talked to others about it… it’s been printed in the bulletin every week. We’ve done just about everything short of shouting from the mountaintops, yet we’ve been told more than once by those who just happen by on Thursday nights that “This is the best kept secret!” By now you should be on the edge seat, “For crying out loud, what’s the secret already?” It’s the Alpha Marriage Course.

The Alpha Marriage Course (AMC), which has been presented here each Thursday since January 21, is nearing its completion of an eight-week run… and what a run it’s been. Each week, we hear nothing but positive feedback from the participants, and blah, blah, blah. I know that’s what you’re thinking, “Marriage course, who needs it?!!” That’s what I thought too at first. This isn’t a “marriage encounter” where all concerned discuss their shortcomings and foibles to the group… it’s likened to a car that, after so many miles, could use a tune-up. AMC is a well thought out, highly enjoyable, as well as challenging video course which is ethically Christian-centered, yet open for all couples who have been married for at least one year, Christian or not. It is presented by dedicated facilitators who help set the mood and the timing. Our fellowship hall is not-so-magically transformed into a romantic setting reminiscent of an intimate restaurant. A sumptuous meal is provided, as well as child care, giving the participants every incentive to be there. Each couple has their own space for discussion of the topics… and it can easily stay between them, though in many ways, it’s evident that they can be much like Jesus’ enthusiastic friend in Mark 1… they’re telling everyone in earshot. AMC challenges each couple to understand each other in new and eye-opening ways, allowing a depth to their marriage that they had difficulty in finding on their own… and it shows.

This image is from the Blue Ridge Parkway across from Burnette Reservoir there in the distance. Catawba rhododendron pop here in early summer, largely because the moisture-laden sky often drops down among them such as you see here. To me, such places have healing qualities of their own.