Dear Brothers and Sisters,
I came out of my apartment early this morning and immediately, my attention was captured by two boldly waving plants whose flowers looked like miniature daisies. I was amazed. You’d have to understand that my “garden” is a bit of earth near the door, about 2 ½ feet square and I am constantly battling the lawn folks who keep trying to spray poison on my “weeds” and throw black mulch on top of everything (how can flowering begonias and lily-of-the-valley qualify as weeds?). Where and when did these two greenies pop up?
Then I remembered. About three years ago, our CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), Willow Haven Farm, had some extra herb plants and I picked up a chamomile seedling. You remember chamomile from the Peter Rabbit stories, don’t you? It’s an herb that comforts, soothes and heals, and is widely used to this day. Even in my dry, tiny plot of earth that faces north and gets no direct sun, this lovely herb flourished. It grew rapidly, covered itself with those tiny daisy-ish flowers, and stretched out many arms to gather up what light it could. To my surprise, I discovered that it had no intention of staying in its pot, and the ground under it was soon covered with tiny, lacy seedlings. I didn’t know it had even come close to propagation time. So aggressive was its growth!
Then winter came, with killing frosts and all the plants died back. More winters, summers, begonias, murderous lawn care folks, passed by. Till this morning! TWO BIG BEAUTIFUL CHAMOMILES! Somehow their seeds survived in the poor dirt and reappeared after 3 years. Not only that, on a much-trodden bare piece of dirt outside my garden, where people walk to get up the steps, there were more minuscule baby chamomile plants. Nearby, in the strong, green, frequently-mowed lawn, hiding among the grass, were yet more tiny chamomiles. As a matter of fact, they seem to be triumphantly marching down the side of the building! Hope the lawn care folks don’t put their glasses on and notice the subversive invaders.
As I survey the brave seedlings, I can’t help thinking about Jesus, who must have awakened one morning and observed crops growing in various kinds of soils. He must not have encountered these chamomiles, determined to grow everywhere! Imagine what they have to teach us: helpful and healing plants, they are growing happily,
although the soil is so poor. Even when there were active attempts to eradicate them, they rested quietly for years, regained their strength, until they were able to surface again, to continue spreading their mission of soothing and healing, in a place that doesn’t even know it needs them.
Isn’t that a perfect lesson for us as Christians? No, the world does not welcome us. It treats us like weeds (and, truth is, some of us ARE weeds). But our Boss asks us to grow in all different kinds of circumstances. We’re to hold up our heads and to share the good news of comfort, healing and joy. For over 2,000 years, we have refused to
succumb, despite attempts to crush us, intimidate us, pervert Jesus’ Way, and simply make us irrelevant. We still grow. We still work. We still pray. We still share, and keep on sharing, the Good News, not just with words, but with our lives. That awareness fills me with delight. (And makes the mischievous side of me want to run around spraying chamomile seeds everywhere. No, I won’t do that, of course, but….)
Keep growing!
Mo. Laura+
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COMING UP!
- July 6-10: Ellie Escher’s Music Camp I
- August 10-14: Ellie Escher’s Music Camp II
- Mondays, Book Study via zoom at 7:00 p.m.: next group starts June 1 C.S. Lewis’ Screwtape Letters
- 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, Girl Scouts, Parish Hall, 6:00-7:30
- Wednesdays, noonday prayer via zoom at 12:00
- Wednesday evenings, yoga class at 6:00 (discount for St. M members)
- Saturdays, Iglesia Luz de Esperanza, 9:00-3:00