Friday, May 17, 2024
My inner garden was overtaken by weeds, and it was choking me. I had to uproot everything. My marriage fell apart. I quit my job. My best friend died. I had to go within, and to retreat to my native land. It really started about 9 years ago. I had to get off of social media. Stop looking at the news. Stop comparing myself. I had to spend time alone wishing nothing but to know myself. I found seeds in the barren land of my soul.
I started working with those seeds of faith and wisdom. I began small, telling myself that I was capable, and that if one could do it, then anyone can do it. There are many examples of those who took the plunge, did something courageous, and were advanced to new levels of living. They replanted themselves and were not afraid to dive into the dark recesses of their inner garden. The seeds of faith are deep. They are often buried into the recesses, but they will grow if you dig deep.
You have the seed of fear, anger, and distrust. You have the seed of love, patience, and trust. Which ones are growing? Which ones do you water and nourish? You’ve got weeds if you mindlessly scroll, watch the news obsessively, are stressed out, or can’t be left alone with nothing to fiddle with.
Cultivating the seeds of faith and wisdom begins with silence and darkness. It entails being alone in the darkness, but that’s where it begins, not ends. Eventually, the seed will burst and break the surface. When it does, you’ll leave the seeds of fear dormant. That’s not to say they won’t sprout occasionally, but your garden will be so alive with roses, the weeds will have no place to mature. How does your garden grow?