Staring At Seeds

I planted some basil, cilantro and chrysanthemum on my desk at work. Sitting under the neon lights, I have been watering them each day. Last Friday the basil and cilantro sprouted. I just stared at them, waiting for them to open up and get bigger.

Each day they are a little bigger, I think anyways. It’s hard to tell day by day. I know a few weeks from now I’ll walk in and see a full plant and wonder when did this happen?

I think our spiritual life is like that, for better or worse. Sometimes I wake up and wonder when was the last time I prayed? Other times, I relish the brilliance of my collective spiritual life, how everything is connected and deep.

Seeds are planted in our lives. We must take care of them. The trick of it is that there is no easy five step plan. Ten minute quiet times and random spontaneous prayers don’t get you to that when did this happen moment. Gardening, tilling, and cultivating our spiritual lives—that is what gets us to those deep, connected moments of spiritual growth.