Today I went to a community garden. I’m not a frequent gardener, both in the
sense of the community garden and my own life.
I seem to get distracted and then the plant dies or something of nature
happens. It’s like I can’t get in the
habit. It’s not a top priority, so it
slips below almost everything else on the list of things to do.
Just because I don’t garden much doesn’t mean I don’t like
it. Every once in a while I long to feel
dirt under my fingernails {in places where it gets stuck…forever}. I love seeing the electric green color after
a fresh rain or watering. I love the
sweet smell of growth. {Ok, I could pass
on the smell of super fresh dirt}. I
love the soothing rhythm of turning the dirt and digging holes for the promise
of seedlings.
Today was about working in the earth, ease of conversation
and feeling rather than seeing.
Gardening is an experience. I got
invited in a passing thought to join a new friend in her space, with her
growth, and her veggies. There was order
and freedom in that space. It seems odd,
but the vegetables were in rows and we looked at the plot like a puzzle seeing
were a row could be finished or a new one created. Order.
There was freedom in stepping in the dirt, kneeling and having nothing
but air around. The only boundary at
that point is the ground, which isn’t much.
Freedom.
I didn’t add a picture, because when I picture the space,
feel the experience, and imagine the growth of that plot, I can then erase the
distractions. I can make the clutter of
the surrounding areas disappear. If only
it was that simple in life. In only it
was easy to focus and be focusing on the right things. If only the distractions could be erased, the
clutter instantly invisible. When I see
the confusion all around I am returned to thankfulness, I turn to compassion, I
give mercy, and I am reminded of humbleness.
By the way, if you are a lover of children’s books please
read The Gardener by Sarah Stewart and David Small. They have excellent books and this is one of
my favorites. {So much so, that as a child I met
them and have a signed copy}
