Sitting here on the desk by my computer is a little book titled, “20 Spiritual Practices That Yard Word Can Teach You”. I bought this a few years ago for Carl. In those days he did all the yard work and gardening. As his health became frail, more and more of those responsibilities came to me and now, of course, I am left to do it all. I like it. It is a spiritual practice to dig, to plant, to transplant, to admire, to sniff, to touch. Gardening effects every sense in the best way possible. (It also reminds one of muscles that have become lazy over the winter!)
At this time of year gardening is all about potential. As shoots appear through the ground I wonder what might that become? The promise of a lily? The unfurling of a Hosta? As dahlia bulbs get buried I can only wonder about the potential for their brilliant abundant blossoms in the late summer.
The number one Spiritual Practice listed in my little book is to “Reverence the Outdoor Sanctuary”. I do that every morning. I peel open the window blind and look out to see what has changed overnight. I feel such delight in just watching things grow. Well, okay, I admit that the weeds can be annoying along with the alarming rate of the growth of grass. But to marvel at the development of plants and shrubs and to admire the blossoms that start as tiny crumpled buds that expand into glorious blooms is really quite wonderful.
This weekend, when I am not attending to church stuff, I will be in my outdoor sanctuary attending to the Spiritual practice of yard work. Hope you get some time to admire a bug, touch a leaf, smell a blossom, feast your eye on the myriad colours of green and maybe even taste some fresh rhubarb and just generally appreciate all the beauty around you.
