Garden Lesson
Sometimes God Speaks Through Ordinary Things
I didn't expect to receive a leadership lesson while preparing lunch.
Earlier that day, I harvested fresh organic kale from my garden.
As I removed the leaves from the stem, I paused. The branching pattern reminded me of the bronchial tree within the respiratory system.
Not because kale is a lung.
But because God's creation has an incredible way of drawing our attention to the beauty and design of the body He created.
That moment reminded me to slow down. To breathe. To express gratitude. To stop rushing through another meal simply to get back to work.
Energy Stewardship™ isn't always found in a conference room. Sometimes it begins in the garden.
The Stewardship Lesson
Healthy Growth Rarely Happens by Accident
Gardening has taught me something I continually see reflected in health coaching.
Healthy growth rarely happens by accident.
- Preparation
- Healthy soil
- Daily attention
- Patience
- Pruning
- Protection
- Nourishment
The same is true for our lives.
The same is true for our health.
The same is true for leadership.
When we ignore what needs tending, decline often begins quietly before it becomes obvious.
Our bodies work much the same way. They often whisper long before they scream.
Reflection
Three Questions to Sit With
- 01Where have you been rushing instead of paying attention?
- 02What has your body been trying to communicate lately?
- 03What is one area of your life God may be inviting you to steward differently?
Energy Stewardship™ Practice
This Week's Practice — Slow Down for One Meal
- Before taking the first bite… pause.
- Take one deep breath.
- Offer gratitude.
- Eat without rushing.
- Notice how your body feels afterward.
Small acts of stewardship practiced consistently create lasting transformation.
"Be still, and know that I am God."
— Psalm 46:10
🌱 Garden Wisdom Takeaway
Healthy gardens don't happen by accident. Healthy lives don't either. Small, intentional acts of stewardship — repeated day after day — produce a harvest over time.
Continue the Journey
Garden Wisdom™ Is One Way We Practice Energy Stewardship™
If your body has been whispering through fatigue, brain fog, inflammation, digestive concerns, or burnout, perhaps it's time to understand what those whispers mean.
Continue the Energy Stewardship™ Journey
Continue the Conversation
What did this article cause you to notice—about yourself, your team, or the environment in which you lead?
Take Your P.U.L.S.E.™—and consider what strengthening might look like from here.
If this conversation would benefit your organization, leadership team, faith community, or professional association, invite Dana Bagnall to speak on Energy Stewardship™ and sustainable leadership.
If this article caused you to recognize something in your own health and wellbeing, schedule a Complimentary Root Cause Discovery Session™ to explore what your body may be communicating and determine your next steps.
Protect Your Energy. Fulfill Your Purpose.
- Read:The Leadership Blind Spot Nobody Is Naming
- Read:The AI Acceleration Trap
- Reflect:When Fatigue Is a Message
Ultimate Wellness Journey™ — the home of the Energy Stewardship™ Movement.