A few weeks ago. One early morning. I awoke and was drawn to go outside. The warm sun had just risen. The morning was quiet. It felt new and fresh. Doesn’t the saying go a new day, a new beginning? Well, I could feel it. I sat on my porch for a few minutes. Breathing. Thinking.
Then, my attention was drawn to the plants on the side of my house. One plant in particular was calling for me. The leaves were dying. I hesitated at first. This was not on the day’s schedule. Trimming plants is a tedious job. Besides the physical work, it works your Spirit. Actually, it’s probably more accurate to say your Spirit uses the plant tending to work you.
I couldn’t ignore the pleas. So, I got up and began trimming. I pulled one dead leaf after another off of the five foot high plant. As I pulled them off, I marveled at the tomatoes and string beans beginning to grow in my garden. It’s amazing how a garden can continue to grow despite a few dead leaves. But the dead leaves become painfully obvious in the midst of green lusciousness and growth. Indigenous cultures teach us that the process of growing involves relinquishing thoughts, things, and sometimes people who no longer serve our journey. It’s fairly easy to pick off a dead leaf. It isn’t as easy to pick off our outgrown thoughts and beliefs. Some cultures, like particular Indian groups, mediate to help the process. Some cultures, such as in African and South American cultures do ritual and initiation. Some cultures identify the needs of an individual and design activities to help them. All of these activities serve to assist the Soul on its journey to grow.
I don’t know what was being worked within me as I trimmed the plant. I thought a lot about God. I gave thanks for plants and how they sustain us. I gave thanks for the day. Maybe that was enough.
