I did it. I went all out with the garden this weekend. And I won - sort of. Actually, maybe Mark is more of a winner than I am. Friday morning Mark and I worked in the garden for 3 or 4 hours. I tore out the wall of nastertiums (sp?), trimmed lavender, lemon verbena, and did a bit of pruning - all in the back terraced garden. Then, on Saturday, Mark had to go into work, so I had some friends come over. God bless Selvi, Amelia, Dean & Jeanne (last two being the former residents of our flat). They all came at some point during the day and helped me out. Dean cleared out all this nasty brush we had in the back and Jeanne cleared out a bunch of nasty debris that the neighbor had been busy denying was his (he swore Jeanne & Dean had left it there - ha! I highly doubt it). Selvi & Amelia cleared out the beds near the steps leading to our flat and got me started on tearing all the tall grasses that everyone is so afraid would allow snakes to lurk. I tore out so much high grass (and yes I used gloves) that my fingernails hurt. Yes, you read that correctly. My fingernails hurt.
But it's done. Thank heavens. And although I am in quite a bit of pain (I went to bed at 10 last night and didn't wake up until 11 this morning!), I feel so much freer now that it is d-o-n-e. Our garden looks good, we can picnic there, and our neighbors don't have anything about which to give us disparaging looks. Phew, what a weight off my mind.
In any case, I'd like to close with one of my favorite prayers. As some of you may see, it's full of stuff in there that I can spend some time working on myself, but it is such an uplifting prayer - suggesting to me that a lot of the problems I have are only problems because I let them be and that God's counsel is to let go of them, that I am too hard on myself. I also learned how to say this prayer in sign language when I was about 15 and have 'performed' it for various events & prayer gatherings in a number of countries over the years. Even those who don't speak English find the sign language version very accessible. In any case, here is the prayer:
"O God! Refresh and gladden my spirit. Purify my heart. Illumine my powers. I lay all my affairs in Thy hand. Thou art my Guide and my Refuge. I will no longer be sorrowful and grieved; I will be a happy and joyful being. O God! I will no longer be full of anxiety, nor will I let trouble harass me. I will not dwell on the unpleasant things of life. O God, Thou art more friend to me than I am to myself. I dedicate myself to Thee, O Lord."
I suppose this could also explain many of my decisions throughout my life to some of the people in my life. This is where I find my strength, and therefore it is where my allegiance lies - if that makes sense.
Yes! Doesn't a clean garden feel good? Cleaning it doesn't particularily, but overseeing your domain and seeing order and beauty almost makes the aches and scratches, etc. worth it. And the good thing is that the order and beauty last longer than the wounds. Sometimes, not much, but somewhat. Once I have finished the big spring push, I like to subscribe to the hour or two a week (sometimes in 15 minute increments) to maintain. Then it hardly feels like anything.
The other day at either a feast or Holy Day, (I think it was one of the Holy Days) Cindy asked us to each read out of the Day Book the writing for our own birthdays, then we each followed with our favorite prayers. I think there were at least three people who recited your favorite prayer. I keep meaning to memorize it, but it seems to just escape me. I am feeling a stronger attachment to it now. I go in cycles on which prayer is my favorite.
Hi Mara,
I hope your gardening has reaped good times, and much appreciative blooming!
papa
I have been gardening too. In fact I got rid of ALL the weeds in our garden and I mowed the lawn that was over one foot high. Daddy can attest to this cause I called him when I couldn't get the mower started! Now I need to get some twine to tie the rose bushes from falling over.