Those of us with plants on our windowsills know the joy of caring for green things. Fill up the watering can, trudge it between the rooms, then carefully tip the can so water flows easily into the pot with just enough to moisten the soil but not overwhelm it.
What does a plant need? Water, sunlight, some drying out, clipping dead leaves off, and repotting when it outgrows the container. What does this have to do with us and a spiritual life, you might ask?
I think that we humans are a bit like the greenery we cherish, especially during the winter months and during these difficult times. What do we need to flourish?
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For me, the “water” I need daily is Scripture. I need to shower myself with words from Isaiah, from a Psalm, or from one of the Gospels. In our Lectionary, we have read passages from the Gospel of Mark. I love how direct he is, how much he focuses on action, not just words. How Jesus heals, how he reaches out to Jairus’ daughter, and how he unwittingly stops the woman’s 12-year flow of blood — all of these passages ground and center me.
What about sunlight and turning myself to gain the warmest rays in these cold days? Friendship and community serve as sunlight for me, including the love of my dear ones. Since research shows that plants respond to music, especially classical, I see love as the “music” my soul and body need. Sitting in our pew during Mass sometimes feels like a warm day to me too, something that will help me to grow and be stronger.
Don’t forget to clip off the dead leaves in our spiritual life. I must do some serious soul work this cold winter, to figure out the “dead” parts of my spirit and how to cut them off. One such part is my Amazon addiction. Seriously. Could I go for one day without clicking on “Buy”? I am trying, but it is a struggle.
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And how about repotting? Sometimes I resist change, well, let me be honest: I always resist change. What things are constraining me now, keeping me from growing bigger in God’s light? I am a work in progress and am unsure how to move into a bigger “pot.” In order to help me make changes, I am rereading a few books crucial to my earlier spiritual journey: “The People of the Lie” by M. Scott Peck, and more recently, “Miracles” by Eric Metaxas. Both help me to grow.
These are just a few of the ways I try to nurture my soul in the same way I care for my green plants. As we look ahead to Easter, let’s consider these steps to help us flourish. We can commit to reading Scripture and perhaps journaling our responses. We can reach out to a wider community at Mass, besides just our pew mates. We can find ways to grow outside of our comfort zones, perhaps through volunteering. And let us not forget to clip off the dead leaves in our lives. Our future growth will thank us for it!
