Joying

Part of the work of healing the spiritual rifts between us and God is en-joying His creation. I believe this is true. When you are invited to someone else's workshop or gallery, it is appropriate and kind to offer compliments on the works you see there. And in the offering of compliments, you will create a bond between yourself and the maker. Shoot, he might even give you something to take home.

So here's one way I've been en-joying creation.



By GETTING SURROUNDED BY IT!

From the right, we have: aloe, bamboo, a tiny little oak which I believe is not living anymore, some scorched basil, and mint out the wazoo. I put them behind the sink because they are all too sensitive to be out in the blazing summer heat, but I now really en-joy having them there, because it makes washing the dishes a little bit more fun.

I scorched the mint pretty badly. Mint is my first love, though, and the cure to all black thumbs, because it is just like the Terminator: "I'll be back" --



I like the image of this little mint bud rising up under the shadow of its shriveled predecessor. As long as it's got one or two roots still living under the soil, it'll rise up again, no sweat no doubt.

I think Walt the fish likes having a little jungle of mint, too:

A happy little joyful thing

A monarch caterpillar!


Which I found at work. (I'm a part-time naturalist.) (Which is not the same as being a nudist, which one or two of the pastors at church may erroneously believe.)

I get real wrapped up in how terrible everything is going for the environment, and I'm pretty sure that's not really healthy. So it's good when I just get a little moment to just feel some joy without any guilt or anger attached to it.

And look! There it is. A little bit of joy, just crawling along a leaf of milkweed. He gets to eat, and eat, and eat, and then he melts down and re-forms and BAM, butterfly wings. And let's face it, no one else could pull off that fashion statement. Just sayin'.