The Spirit seemed to beam with joy and welcomed me home to my garden saying, “We have missed you here. Welcome home.” We embraced, my physical and spiritual presence and my guardian Spirit, and we revelled in the joy of our reunion and our unity. We stood at the entrance of this great garden and gazed over the large garden full of plants. Color radiated everywhere and the magic and splendor of the garden still defy description. At a quick glance it was beautiful, alive, lush greenery and sculpture from this vantage it was obvious this garden was expansive as we stood at the most elevated spot in the garden. As I looked closer at the garden though, giving it a thorough examination, I realized the garden had been quite neglected for quite some time. It was now very overgrown and unkept and was merely a sliver of its former splendor that I now remembered.
I stepped in to examine the garden further and immediately encountered a rose bush. It was leggy and overgrown and it was covered with tiny burgundy single wild roses. I immediately felt I was being asked by the Spirit to make a decision. You see the branch extended over the granite paver path making the walk impassable. “Should we cut the rose canes out of the path, walk around them, or hack the whole bush down?” I thought a moment then responded, “Let us walk around this bush today. Let us examine the garden together and appraise the work that needs to be done. Let us enjoy the sacred moment of reunion and let us spend some time getting to know the garden once again. I have been away far too long.” So we walked gingerly around the wild rose. As we did so the Spirit pointed out that this rose had originally been one of my favorite, planted near the entrance to inspire all as they entered my sacred space. I replied, “I do not recall planting a burgundy wild rose here?” The Spirit whispered you did not plant a burgundy rose here. You planted a stunning white rose called ‘Honor” here and it is still here but its wild roots have overtaken the true rose.” I made a special note to return and carefully prune out the wild and find the good true rose canes once again.
We continued deeper into the garden and I can not justly explain in words the beauty and the bounty of color that surrounded us. Despite the gardens neglect, it had managed to survive and in many places it still thrived and had maintained some of its planned glory. Much of the soil was dry though and compacted and many plants showed signs of lack of nutrients and others looked wilted and strained. Rubbish and rotting leaves made the ground look cluttered in other places. Other places had become infested with weeds and other areas had either become completely overgrown or simply died all together.
4 comments:
It is interesting how often we forget the good we've done and the light of who we are and then leave it behind, negelcted. I love how you chose to appraise and inventory this garden before beginning the process of repair. It mirrors, for me, the 4th step of the inspired 12 steps of recovery.
I am anxious and enthusiastic as I await more.
My first surprise was that you didn't "hack the whole bush down." I've always thought you pruned too much, but given time they always come back so much more beautiful. Sometimes it is the "harsh" steps that need to be taken that produce the greatest beauty. Keep up the good writing.
I too like that you weren't immediately hasty with what "changes" you should make - but rather wanted to step back and see the big picture first.
I'm jealous of your garden, even as neglected as it is right now. My backyard is planted totally on barren, unfertile soil...but I am still amazed day by day how hardy and persistent certain plants are that begin to unfold and thrive in my yard. That's how it is in our lives too. Sometimes we are supposed to grow and bloom, but there seems to be nothing to support us in our endeavors. We have to be stubborn like the plants...like your rose...and grow!
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