Have the seed and plant catalogs been flooding your mail? Thoughts and discussions of digging in the soil have become commonplace in our home. Lent is a period of spiritual reflection and renewal for many of us. It emphasizes sacrifice, self-discipline, and repentance. However, it can also be a time for personal growth and transformation.
The idea of running your fingers through dirt and asking what needs to grow and what needs to be buried can be a powerful metaphor for introspection and self-discovery. It reminds us that growth and transformation are not easy processes, and they often require letting go of old habits, beliefs, or emotions that no longer serve us. Just like the soil needs to be prepared for new life by breaking down what has died, we too need to let go of what's holding us back to make room for growth and renewal.
For many of us this process of introspection and self-discovery can be an opportunity to reflect on our values, beliefs, and actions. We can ask ourselves what kind of community we want to grow and what needs to be buried. We can examine our biases, privileges, and prejudices and challenge them to create a more just and equitable world for all. We can also look at our personal relationships and ask ourselves what needs to be nourished and what needs to be let go of.
While the transformation of seed into plant is a beautiful and mysterious process, the soil itself is just as important. It's made of things that have died, but it provides the conditions for new life. Similarly, in our personal and collective journeys, the things we need to bury can be painful or difficult to let go of, but they create fertile ground for new beginnings. We can embrace the cycle of growth, decay, and renewal and trust that even in the darkest moments, new life can emerge.
In closing, as we run our fingers through the soil, we can remember that transformation is not always easy, but it's necessary for new life to emerge.