Musings while in the garden

For a foodie, Santa Rosa isn't a bad place to be. I don't know about gardening but we started one in the old sandbox (added soil amendments) last February and look at it now. We started the tomato seeds from scratch (y'all may remember them from my living room in Belle) and behold - look at them now (big bushy green things on the back and right). They are turning ripe and I am remembering why tomatos are one of the signs that God loves us and wants us to be happy.

While this isn't the first time I've enjoyed the benefits of a garden, it is the first I have worked in all on my own (okay and Ian and Gavin too from time to time). My desk overlooks that garden so its fun to watch it grow. Last week I planted two kinds of string beans - one being an old fashioned Italian variety and another being a classic Blue Lake. Beans like warm dirt (60-70 degrees) and they had no problems germinating.

But first - It was very cool and mysterious just to plant these beans. I don't know why it got to me but maybe its because bean seeds are big and easy. You go scratch open the ground, mix in some bat guano, drop in these big seeds and then cover it up. The moment of awakening - of quickening - of becoming alive (are they alive when sitting around as a seed?) is hidden down there in that dirt. I had an urge to perform some ancient pagen planting ritual but I couldn't figure out how not to scare the nighbors.

I so see why people use seeds as metaphores for some much of our lives. This going to seminary thing or sending out PIF thing* - its a lot like putting something out there in the dark and waiting for "it" to happen. There isn't much I've done to make this garden happen other than to plant seeds, kill slugs**, and try to keep out its way. All by itself - little bitty seeds use air, dirt, sunlight, and water and make these really incredible bright red juicy tomato things. How does it do that?***

Within a week - these huge big little plants started erupting from the soil - and some still have the seed casing halfway embracing the leafs tight and others have pulled their leafs free. In some you can see where the root has thrust out one end of the seed and shoving its way into dirt and water while the stem and leave start to stretch out toward the sunlight. Its so magical, so mysterious, so.... holy.

What is up in your lives? James Kosko wrote to say that he has been busy since China getting his Profile together. It has now been processed as a draft version and the final step is for James and the Director of the local office of Search and Call to review and approve and then to send out to interested and interesting UCC congregations which should occur by September 5th. Woo Hoo!




*random thought: what ancient pagen ritual would be appropriate for sending out PIFs?
** At first I tried freezing them ala Carol but lately I'm into tossing them into the middle of the street so they can get run over. I may need to work on my Dharma. Or is that Karma? Wait, I'm a Presbyterian Candidate for Ministry of the Word and Sacrament...
*** and how can I get the PIF to do this too?