The beauty of this world depends on your flourishing

Am really loving being in Balymoney with my Mum.  One enters a bubble universe in which the garden is the centre of everything.  Garden centres become havens of flowers and soil, which are then replanted in bigger pots, or shady spots perfect for their growth.  My mother is frustrated at how pot bound plants from the garden centre are, roots entangled and repeatedly shows me a victim, tangled roots almost bare of soil as if demonstrating a torture victim for crimes against humanity. 

She takes these cramped life forms and frees them, water, fresh soil are lavished and then she monitors their progress.  Such kindness is only for a certain time. If, after all due care has been shown, a plant does not thrive she makes a call and they get short thrift.  The plants seem to sense they live on the line and put incredible effort into growth and petals. 

I myself have no interest in plant life and routinely kill everything that comes into my sphere.  Not deliberately but by total neglect – even watering.  But living in my Mum’s universe I begin to see the nurturing that is going on every day in a spiritual vein.  All is done to create growth to encourage progress and much effort expended to this end.  Combined with a rigorous monitoring and checking of leaves, soil for new shoots.  Infestations are fought tooth and nail, and minor discolouration of leaves is a major cause of concern.   Even tiny progress is celebrated and the previous wilting specimen that perks up is congratulated and smugly appreciated. 

I enter a world that is totally foreign to me but sense that these rules apply to all aspects of our own life on this planet.  Would that we daily examined ourselves for growth, new shoots, infection etc and were more aware of our soil  and the effect of environment  on the end product, us.  Learned from the day before what leads to the betterment of our soul or to its degradation.  Worked to make an environment for us all that calls out for achievement and excellence.  Consulting honesty on progress made or deterioration in our lives. Because nothing stays still in the garden of our hearts.  We grow and we die, that we cannot change.  But everything in between is up to us.  May this find you not pot bound, free of infestations and filled with the water of life.  The beauty of this world depends on your flourishing, I have no doubt of this.