On a wooden desk sits a stack of unfinished work in the form of paper, pieces of wrapped candies, and our vulnerable hearts. We talk news, politics, love, and, most importantly, our more than hectic but also beautiful lives. The ability to open up and be so bluntly honest with someone about the worries of living in this world is a treasure worth every second — especially when that someone has lived a few more decades than you.

Once every two weeks or so I meet with a friend at her insurance agency after reading the coursework for our time together. Our latest reading included a book on the Christian theology of love, Loveology by John Mark Comer, along with some supplemental pieces printed off from the web.

While engaging in a paragraph-by-paragraph synopsis and discussion, we came across an interesting section that has since left me mulling over the idea presented. In today’s world, we go to college in hopes to financially stabilize ourselves in a vocation. Comer pointed out that “vocation comes from a Latin word meaning ‘calling.’” However, if our career of choice was our vocation, there would be no need to change directions down the line. A calling is what we’re meant to do, not necessarily what we aspire to do. Comer didn’t mean vocation as how we provide a roof over our heads but as how we flourish ourselves in a spiritual sense. He calls this our gardening project.

All of us have a gardening project, and when my accomplished mentor and friend asked me what my gardening project consisted of, I didn’t know how to answer. “Well, I like being a friend, a listener. I like people,” I said. Sure, being there for others is a start. It’s not my whole story, though. I’d still like to add a few pages describing how I spread my seeds and watch them grow around me — which, instead of one concrete plan, ends up being many smaller pieces put together with some common denominator.

The idea of a gardening project isn’t meant to get people to go on humanitarian work until they’re food for worms. It’s meant to challenge people to make the world around them a better place for all. Below I added an ever-growing list of small and slightly larger gardening projects I’d like to accomplish at some point. (Is there a theme?)

1. Give out necessities in Sierra Leone

2. Pay the Starbucks bill for the car behind me

3. Lead a Bible study

4. Donate blood

5. Write an inspirational/informative/self-help book

6. Have an open house policy for friends

7. Tutor someone

8. Financially support a kid in a developing country

9. Be encouraging, in general

While you’re reading through them, and later when you’re sipping your Starbucks coffee or tapping your pencil at work or school, I kindly urge you to think about the triumphs you want to check off your own gardening list — anywhere from planting bitty baby’s breaths to the enormous rafflesia arnoldii. Your spirit will not be disappointed.

Happy gardening!