I’m sitting at a plastic table outside of my apartment trimming and transplanting my small bonsai trees. These particular ones are volunteer cedars taken from the yard of a friend. I like how the soil feels to my fingers; it is dark and rich, warm to the touch despite the cold of a late winter day with a hint of spring in the air.
Bonsai are finicky creations that need just the right balance of soil, moisture and proper nourishment to thrive. They get trimmed every so often and the taproot gets checked yearly. A plant cannot thrive if the taproot isn’t healthy. I almost hate disturbing the soil this time because it’s a nice mix of Oregon rainforest soil and compost from a friend’s yard. Small patches of clover have popped up here and there and a nice bit of moss has taken over in places. This too shall come back, sooner than I expect it to even.
We are a lot like those bonsai trees. If we are to thrive then we too need the proper balance in our lives. The mind, soul, body and spirit need nourished and treated with love and care and we need a strong taproot ourselves. This taproot is faith – faith in something greater than ourselves of which we are a part. If we do not tend to this taproot with prayer, meditation, lovingkindness and doing the work of a higher purpose in our lives then it will shrivel and it will become a plant of the world, one that looks good on the outside but deep within the soil of our world the roots are dying.
Let us treat ourselves therefore as we would a finicky bonsai plant. Let us trim our lives with care, taking care to feed and nourish ourselves and our spirits so we can better do the work of the Almighty. Let us taste the living water and tend to our roots, trimming from our lives that which does not serve our higher purpose.
Spring is coming. Are you ready?
Rev. Kerena Hyler DD (OCC GMK/Bishop/Chaplain)