I’ve been working my way through the book “The Understory” by Lore Ferguson Wilbert and this little snippet caught my attention and of course in the most perfect timing as I have been working through the reflection for this weekends garden project

“Here is sorrow. Here is hurt... St. Francis has been credited with saying 'our hands imbibe like roots, so I plant them on what is beautiful in the world.' Soil is what is beautiful in the world—hidden, dark, loamy, and life giving... Make me like a plant, I am learning to pray.”

I think often darkness is associated with something that isn’t good. When in reality it’s in the midst of darkness life is often formed. The womb, the night, the depths of soil and earth, we see so much life forming in these dark places. Maybe it’s not that darkness is actually all that bad, maybe it’s just a bit uncomfortable. Maybe darkness challenges that ability to be in control, to have full sight of what is ahead, to be certain.

MAKE ME LIKE A PLANT

What a beautiful prayer, request, consideration. To be made not to fear the hidden, dark, unknown, kinda scary and LIFE GIVING parts of this life. To have courage to experience the depths of life and death and celebrate that cycle rather than avoid it. To press down into the soil, hold what is beautiful in the world even when it’s challenging because even the parts that feel so dark alsooooo hold the very source of life!! Ahhh I am so curious on what this weekend will hold. How this experiential learning of planting life together will bring to the surface these very themes and ideas. Here is the reflection in case you have a few minutes to dig in! Id love to hear what stands out for you.