Sunday 27 July 2014

The plants



When I walk through the garden after I’ve watered it in these hot days, the cool ascending fragrance is like heaven.  
The lemon balm, the mint, the roses . . .

And then I become aware of something else coming off the plants, living beings: an emotion. I pause to ask myself what it is. The first thing that comes to my mind is gratitude; thanks.  As I taste the sense of it, I know that’s right but not right. What is it?

Then I find the adjustment to what I’m feeling. I realize I had factored in that the plants are grateful to me ~ that they are saying thank you to me ~ because I brought them the water.

But that’s not it. The plants are wiser than that. They see with a more  . . . er . . . what? . . . rarified, profound, fine, comprehensive? . . . cosmic understanding/insight/vision of unity than I do. What comes to them and what they give, they know belongs to all things, is inbreathed and outbreathed by the divine mystery, the breath of God.

When I water them in these hot, dry days, there arises from them not only perfume celestial, but an emanation of thankfulness. Just thankfulness. Not to me.

It is a lesson in what it means that there is no duality; plants live beyond personality. They understand the One.


And I, because I live in a world of particularity, suchness and individuality ~ personality ~ because I have to have Jesus’s hand to hold as well as abiding in divine mystery ~ I am grateful to the plants.


7 comments:

gail said...

This is profound and really very beautiful. Your life of simplicity is making room for the pure truth of the Creator. He has so much more for us if we can just be still and know. Your words today remind me of the first part of Genesis 3:8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day.
I particularly like your line. "They understand the One". That is what He is calling us to also. Just letting go of the unnecessary to make room for the understanding. I don't want to miss that.
Thanks Pen.
Blessings Gail.

Pen Wilcock said...

:0) xx

Anonymous said...

That is truly lovely! We should be listening for the mystery. So much gets in the way.
thanks
DMW

Pen Wilcock said...

:0) xx

BLD in MT said...

This is a good one, Pen.

Anne said...

Sounds lovely!

Pen Wilcock said...

Yes, I love the plants. Last night, walking down the path home to Komorebi, I stood for a while and gazed at the moon shining through the branches of the tall ash trees. So beautiful.