Wit and Wisdom by Adam Harbinson

Eventually he did, and when he finally completed the refurbishment of the interior he began work on the gardens. Neglected for years they were a veritable jungle of decaying outbuildings, rotting trees, waist high briers and weeds and a bog, what might used to have been a fish pond.

But in time the half acre plot began to resemble a garden and after a few more years it was every gardener’s dream. Soft fruit trees and vegetable plots, herb gardens and carefully manicured lawns.

Soon, word got out and visitors began to arrive from far and near, and then one day a BBC camera crew among them, turned up.

One of them, the man holding the microphone, was an old retired Anglican Vicar who strolled around this Paradise on his doorstep, transfixed by its beauty and charm.

Hands clasped, eyes heavenward he almost cried out, ‘Isn’t God’s handiwork wonderful!’

But the owner of the idyllic work of horticultural splendour was a bit miffed, ‘I wouldn’t be too sure about that,’ he moaned. ‘You want to see the mess it was in when he had it to himself!’

The mystery of the relationship between God and mankind is beyond our understanding; the fact that he stoops to rely on the creatures of his hand to carry out his will is incomprehensible.

How humble of him to involve us in his eternal plan, how arrogant of us to think we did it without him, or that we can achieve anything outside his empowering.

Adam welcomes comments on his column. Write to him c/o Larne Times, 8 Dunluce Street, BT40 1JG or send an email to [email protected]