Cultivate Your Garden

Imagine that a field grows inside of you. When you scan over this field, what do you see growing in it? Which flowers bloom or wither? What colors, textures and landscapes come into view? Does it live and breathe?

The garden that grows inside of us awaits cultivation. We are given many seeds, and we make the constant decision on which ones to water. We find root issues under the earth that we can mindfully release or continue to fertilize.

At one point I went through a major “victim” stage in life where I felt attacked and burdened. “Why me” was a familiar question at that time, but it didn’t water productive seeds. I didn’t know I could enjoy total love and joy when worries and challenges existed. I thought I had to work it all out first before I could finally enjoy the good stuff.

But the good stuff is here and now! And it grows stronger and stronger when we practice loving kindness, compassion and unconditional love.

During each moment that we are aware of something peaceful and beautiful, we water seeds of peace and beauty in us, and beautiful flowers bloom in our consciousness. The length of time we water a seed determines the strength of that seed. ~Thich Nhat Hanh in Touching Peace

If you go for an afternoon walk and experience extreme peace while staring out at a pond, flower or small animal for a few minutes, you spend a few minutes strengthening peace. In those same few minutes, other seeds such as fear, anger, sadness and jealousy do not get watered.

In each moment we can make a mindful decision of what seeds we will water. Living mindfully — experiencing each moment just as it is — helps us see in living color and transform compost into flowers.

Thank you, God, for your grace.