I was sitting with my son, George – as he finished his meal and I was admiring our potted fern on its shelf in the dining room. I thought of its life- and-how, without knowing of plants vital role in the symbiotic relationship of everything- and, just simply by the looks of it- one could deem it as useless.
Just sits there.
There’s so much nuance in life – gradations of beauty and subtlety that could potentially grace our lives.
And – I was thinking of a human life. What crowds out the beauty may be the endless churning of future formulations – wants – desires for safety and so on. My mother-in- law perpetually speaks of would-be scenarios way down the line.
There was a time where I would do the same – until my life took so many unexpected turns that – somewhere along the way I stopped regarding the future with so much fear and hesitation. Now – I do my best to look at a future potentiality as objectively as possible – and, if there are no decisions to be made- then I remind myself; there are no decisions to be made.
I thought how plants fulfill their roles without all the wasted effort. While we are continually scheming to change an outcome – wishing things were different .
And-thought, how I feel better surrounded by plants – and the joy of watching them thrive.
Then I thought of particulars – and our tendency to notice them. More specifically how I’d gotten here – sitting with my son as he finished his lunch. So many moments adding up to that point – where I have landed. All those decisions and the countless emotions that undoubtedly swayed me in one direction or the other.
Through the years I have learned to trust- a little more- in the process; having experienced countless examples that have yielded an unwavering belief in the hidden hand – the orchestration behind the unfolding of life events.
So, if I ever get caught up in swiveling – maneuvering – grasping a wanted outcome – I can look to the fern – who’s doing it all without all the extra movements.
