08/10/2024
Snuggle in. This is a long one.
Some of you might recognize this area as the ground where the old wooden “smoke shack” used to sit. As time passed, it became weak and decayed and the decision was made to tear it down.
Demolition day came in very early spring and when this new plot of dirt was exposed, I had grand plans of tilling, adding top soil and planting wild flowers.
When other things took priority for me week after week, the residents began cleaning the area of years of trash, screws, and cigarette butts on their own. Pretty soon they began turning the dirt. It was the poorest, rockiest tortured ground that anyone could ever hope to cultivate.
It didn’t look promising and although the motivated gardeners had finished their time in treatment, the new group still walked around and not through it as if anything could possibly be stirring under the surface.
One Monday in June, I returned after a weekend to find three stakes had been driven into the ground. I went to examine the protrusions and a female resident excitedly exclaimed “There are pumpkins growing in there!” I smiled and nodded but decided quickly in my head that there was absolutely no chance that whatever sad green sprouts had managed to emerge would ever produce anything resembling a pumpkin.
She and a handful of other residents remained optimistic and carried water to them day after day. As they vined around, I would see several of them squat and inspect under leaves every now and then for signs of flowers. “Thats nice,” I thought to myself, devoid of any hope at all that they would flower let alone be pollinated.
Pretty soon, the hose from the back of the building was stretched across the yard. Some novice gardener residents were watering these poor vines at high noon on a 98 degree day! “Nice knowing ya, pumpkins!” I’d mutter under my breath.
July brought an intense heat wave. My OWN pumpkins struggled, wilted and died. I could barely believe my eyes when I returned to work one Monday morning and theirs were BLOOMING! Not just a couple of blooms either. More than I could count!
Over that weekend, they had also started working on a painted rock boarder sporting names, crosses, rainbows and words of encouragement.
Then the fruit came. They came so vibrant and healthy that I felt bad for ever doubting them. We still don’t know exactly what they are but they. are. bountiful.
I’m sure, at this point, I don’t need to paint this metaphor for you but I hope this serves as a reminder for you that even when it doesn’t appear that growth is possible, even when you are doubted every step of the way, with a little bit of love and care, a new life can find a way. ♥️
