It snowed in Palmer Rapids this morning. It’s my fault, just yesterday I was talking about the arrival of spring.
In a way it’s kind of comforting to see the snow as a reminder of how many things we don’t control but God does.
As people scramble to fight the pandemic and its ensuing financial stress, it is comforting to remember just how much is out of our hands, and in the hands of a loving God. We can only control a few things in life, and our attitude is one of them.
My life coach Pam the Pan has been working a lot with me this week to help me adjust my attitude when necessary. For example this morning when I found Carmelle on top of the fridge, I simply lifted her down instead of getting angry. I chose my response.
The plants on top of my fridge pretty much sum up my survival strategy for the post-apocalyptic era in Palmer Rapids. The large plant on the right is an avocado tree I planted from an avocado pit several months ago when Greta Thunburg was in the news so much.
It occurred to me that if there was any positive side to global warming, the ability to grow avocados in Palmer Rapids might be one of them. I know of some gardeners in Killaloe who successfully grow fruit bearing fig trees in very large pots. They keep them outside in the summer and bring them back in during the cold weather.
If the worldwide shutdown of the economy doesn’t help with global warming, at least there could be figs and avocados growing in Palmer. I’d be happy to share if the orchard ever does get established.
There is normally a small fig tree on my fridge too which was moved the other day to make way for the pot that is covered in the plastic bag. This pot contains some potatoes that had sprouted recently. Hopefully they can be planted outside before too long. I was going to throw them in the compost until I remember Matt Damon’s resourcefulness in The Martian movie.
The pot is presently on the fridge because last week Carmelle started to eat the potato sprouts, which was neither good for her nor the poor potatoes. This morning she discovered it again and that is why she jumped up there.
The other plant is one of my two spider plants. Every time I water them I sing, “Spider plant, Spider plant, does whatever a spider can’t. Grows a leaf overhead…I said…look at my Spider plant!” I sing the words really loudly and enthusiastically to the tune of the Spiderman theme song.There are also actions that go along with this little ritual.
I’ve been singing this song for months, so it occurs to me that I was a little bit touched even before the pandemic.
I like the fact that plants let you be as silly as you want to be. Spider plants are natural air purifiers so it’s always good to have a few around. All the plants (with the exception of the poor seedlings Tubby Washington has been eating are doing very well.)
Who knows if the avocado orchard will really develop. Not all of my plans work out. OK let’s be honest, most of them are epic failures, but every once and while one of my ideas does succeed.
If you have an idea you always wanted to try, maybe now is the moment to do so. As long as you can do it without violating the new physical distancing norms, why not give some crazy idea a try?
One of my favourite phrases is, “Sow in sorrow, reap in joy”. This is a great time to sow some seeds of various types; they will be up before you know it. Maybe the seed of some idea you plant today will be a great blessing for many in the years to come.
Many people are in an anxious state because they do not know what is coming next. The fact is, we NEVER know what is coming next. Until recently we may have had some old routines that kept us in place, but that doesn’t me we really ever knew what was around the corner.
Today is Holy Thursday. If you are spending it alone, know that you are doing the right thing. Tonight around the world priests in empty Churches are offering the sacrifice of the Mass for you and for the whole world.
You don’t need to do much to receive the graces being offered for you. But like the earth in Palmer Rapids which received the snow this morning, just accept them as fall all around you. No need to go out, no need to place an order for them, just let them come to you wherever you are, whoever you are. No matter the reason you think you might not deserve them, they are yours for the taking.
No comments:
Post a Comment