We recently attended the Association of Northwest Landscape Designers’ annual garden tour. Some of the gardens (and the houses they enclosed) were dreamy-wonderful. There were two, quite frankly, that had me a bit covetous. As we walked through “Garden Number 3,” I found myself picturing it as my garden. I was sitting on the beautiful stone bench overlooking the glorious perennial bed. I was strolling along the lawn admiring the boarder of dazzling day lilies. I was picturing myself in one of the “outdoor rooms,” talking with friends and enjoying the rose-scented air.

Yeah, I’m pretty sure that’s how the word envy is defined.

The early Catholic Church had a list of what they called the Seven Deadly Sins: lust, gluttony, greed sloth, wrath, envy and pride. They felt that all the trouble of the world (and the peril of our souls) could be traced back to one or more of these issues. I think they wished to provide a simple way of helping people to know what thoughts and behaviors to avoid—things that would get them into trouble.

But it’s not that simple, of course.

Thanksgiving, at our house, tends to the gluttonous. There’s always more food than should be eaten—but each year we seem to be willing to give it a try.

Our garden tour? A “sin” of envy or an exercise in inspiration? It’s hard to tell the difference on the surface, but I suspect you can tell on the inside. After all, we haven’t planned a neighborhood coup at present. The gardens are safely still in the hands of their owner/gardeners.  The tour reminded me what I can accomplish in my own garden.

I think all of the “deadly sins,” have innocent and positive beginnings! Who doesn’t want (and deserve) a second helping of mashed potatoes? Who can’t be proud of a project that turned out well or of a beautiful garden? Why should we be fearful that unreturned affection will turn into something darker? Putting effort into living a comfortable and abundant life does not require greed to be part of the equation.

The trouble starts when it becomes compulsory. When we must have the extra mashed potatoes (and keep them coming!) we know that a line has been crossed. When we can’t enjoy our own garden for the envy of someone else’s, our inspiration has turned into something else, something darker.

It would be nice to think we could categorize our thoughts and behaviors so neatly into “sins” and “virtues.” Perhaps they can help us in very general terms.

But then it’s up to us to go within and see what’s really going on! Envy or inspiration? Gluttony or comfort? Lust or attraction? Each of us gets to decide!