Inspirations: Archives

In the garden, it is important to grow. In a Practice, it is important to grow. When we stagnate it becomes impossible to blossom. Petals and potential fall unseen back into the earth. Yes, there is always another time, another cycle, a new chance to become, but why not now? If we can but let our tears water us, our pain teach us, our knowledge fertilize the soil, we grow profusely. What of weeding? Who will choose us if our thorns prick? Who will love us if we stink? What if we emerge deformed? When we are attentive we find a gardener right for us. It is possible to bloom without help, but we become lush and fecund with the help of a good gardener. We are more able to grow powerfully when someone weeds, fertilizes, and waters besides ourselves, and as importantly, when someone allows us to do the same for them. Some of us are roses, needing lots of extra attention, and some of us are wildflowers, wanting little, but we all grow as lovers when someone takes time to watch us blossom, and nod appreciation. Most of us manage to survive, despite ourselves, for the will to live is the strongest force there is, next to love. But to move beyond survival, that is the job of a Practice. A ‘growing-practice’ demands weeding out doubt, fears, addiction, and laziness, and a good gardener overcomes by growing knowledgeable, attentive, hard working, and willing to risk. A formidable gardener listens to the plants, converses with them, sees who they want to become, and admires every effort. That is when the garden blazes into glory, and the earth is glad. “The rose is beautiful and scarred…but which is which….Too often we love in spite of the thorns. Let us love… Read more »