Plant the Seed

Years ago, I began a blog called Plant Potatoes. The idea of this stemmed from our first family-planting of potatoes and reaping this amazing harvest. I saw this expansion of food from a few pieces of potato. My goal was to talk about small things that we can teach our children that will reap huge bounty in the long-term. I love the vision of that place. I know, someday, I will be called back to write more about these things.

As for today, I am moving away from potatoes and on to seeds. Maybe it's the parables I have heard over the last few months that spark this depth of perception around planting, gardening, seeds and God. Maybe it's where we are in our lives. The point is, I continue to use this as a reflective tool for the lessons in my life - the struggles, pains, excitements, and new adventures!

You tend the ground. It seems free of weeds, debris and other plants. Your nourish the soil and scatter the seeds. If the seeds are planted too close to the surface, their roots will be tiny and weak. I can see this in my life. I plan, prepare and nourish only to plant shallow seeds that seem to be blown over by the slightest wind (negative response or cruel reaction). I am devastated. This is not the end. I have a choice: wallow in the devastation of a small plant, or seek to get deeper roots (this is the personal development). I choose to seek deeper roots.

Let me just say, roots aren't cool! They are not seen and they surely don't have beautiful flowers or some amazing fruit that we can eat. Roots are necessary. For me, my roots, which are from a spiritually derived purpose and an ever deeper understanding of love, compassion and acceptance in the world, must be cultivated. Without roots, no plant can stand. Without my own commitment to deepening my awareness and grace, I will not stand - I will be blown over by the slightest deviation.

What does this boil down to for me? Daily practice of seemingly insignificant actions over and over for long-term gain. It may not look pretty from the outside. It may not have flowering buds and sparkly leaves shining in the sun. It will. It will soon. It will because I will continue to cultivate and tend to the parts of myself that no one else sees. It will because I will continue to connect to my higher Power and seek to grow and develop. I will be teachable. I will be open. I will be honest and real. I will look at those scarey things in myself and the world around me and allow God to unfold those discomforts in a new way. I will.

Plant the seed.

Blessings on the Journey!