Yep, that's what I was thinking this morning. And then WHAMMO! As I was calculating in my "I grew up where I can get anywhere in 15 minutes head and this city traffic is impossible" what time I needed to leave because of the snow it hit me. Things will be slower today. Snow always slows things down.
Sigh. Yeah. The snow is slowing things down.
For weeks, ok, months, I have been dreaming and fantasizing and plotting and planning and talking about what I'm going to do when spring arrives. I mean, for real, I cannot WAIT! I'm so excited to get outside and play and garden and myrtle in our newly renovated yard. It's going to be bliss.
But today, the snow is changing all of that.
As well it should. And we should. We who celebrate and honor and remember Holy Week. WE should slow down. We shouldn't rush it.
Imagine, being told this was it. The last week of your life. Would you rush to the bitter end, hurry up and finish, yeah, yeah, yeah you're way through conversations and tasks and hello/goodbyes?
I don't think so. At least I wouldn't.
Oh, no. Like the last cookie Girl Scout cookie in the box, one tinsy bite at a time. I'd chew and savor and take my own sweet time getting through it.
But no! What have I done? All I've done is tried to get to the other side. Binge and purge my way through what remains of this wretched season because I'm done with it. And ready for something new.
Right out of grad school I decided I wanted to take up gardening. I was living in the south at the time, so any bit of gardening wisdom I had gleaned weeding my mother's and grandmother's Ohio flower beds applied little. The plants were different, the seasons were different and well, quite frankly, I really wasn't all that interested in it, only so much that I didn't pull a flower as a weed so I didn't get in trouble. [I still struggle telling the difference between sprouts of coreopsis and a weed]. Thankfully, a sweet woman I worked with too me under my wing. She gave me an entire garden full of plants. FREE!!! I couldn't believe it. I felt like I should offer to pay her, but deep down didn't want to because I knew I couldn't afford it. Begrudgingly I asked her how much I owed her. She grinned and said, "Holly, these were either going to you or the trash." My first lesson in perennial gardening in the south. Flowers ARE LIKE WEEDS!
Near the end of my second season, I trudged over to her office very frustrated. Some of my plants were dying and I couldn't figure out the reason. I diligently explained the situation. Type of light, amount of water, verified the plant [I think I may have even brought her a sample]. She grinned and said, "Holly, plants don't live forever. It's part of being a gardener, making way for new by removing the old." Another lesson in gardening. I am not God and can't give eternal life. [though to this day I still try diligently, just ask the houseplant that's down to one little stick on our side table.]
Another lesson I was reminded of was after my first season. Following the winter [mild where I was living at the time], my garden mentor asked me if I had walked my yard yet to look at tall of the new growth and to see what had survived. Since we had only had a few weeks of nice weather it hadn't occurred to me to look around yet. She grinned and said, "of all the seasons in my garden, this is my favorite. Immediately following winter, I am giddy with anticipation to see what the spring will bring. Plants need winter. They rest and slow down their growth and rejuvenate. It's such an exciting time."
Our exciting time is coming. Soon, we will walk our yards and look for new growth. We will see what the end of winter has brought and the warm sun of spring will bring forth.
But this morning, I'm wondering.....my pushing through Lent and check, check, checking off the 40 days, only to be confronted with what now appears to be adding up to now 2 inches of snow on my hyacinth sprouts, I needed this snow.
I needed this snow. There, I said it. Sorry to all of you who are grumbling and cold and frustrated.
But I needed it. Today, I needed to be reminded that it IS indeed Holy Week. A week that we, all who see the cross as more than a pretty piece of jewelry, must slow down and savor.
"It's Friday, but Sunday's a-coming" Nay, "It's snowing, but Sunday's a-coming"
This is a great post. Thank you. I just walked my yard this weekend and took it all in. Thank you for reminding me to "walk the yard" of my heart... What is growing, what needs thrown out.
ReplyDeleteAndrea, I love that analogy about walking the yard of your heart. Very good.
ReplyDeleteHere's to a week of pruning.