Fragrant Experiences

I spent several hours weeding the herb garden recently. It is the first time this summer that I have aggressively sought to rid it of unwanted growth. Like many places, the summer has been so dry at the Chicken Ranch that even weeds have had a hard time getting started. Actually, if not for the water that we apply to flowers and gardens alike, there wouldn’t be many weeds at all. We also have weeded sparingly because we didn’t want to disturb the soil, for fear of drying it even more. But now, after surveying the choking undergrowth around my plants, I had decided it was time.

Crabgrass is the enemy we fight the most. The roots of this weed spread out and encompass the roots of other plants and flowers, strangling them in the process. Removing this spidery foe can be tiresome business. These weeds and a few others were robbing the plants of precious water. Purging was a must.

As I was gingerly separating the crabgrass roots from the marigolds that border the herb garden, I inadvertently broke a branch of one the flowers. Before I thought, I muttered “I'm sorry about that”. Just as I began lamenting the loss of a branch of blossoms, the aroma of the marigold burst forth and loaded the air with fragrance. I was humbled. I had accidentally trimmed the poor plant a full third while purging it.  Heaven knows the plants are a only shadow of their usual splendor and productivity as it is, and I had damaged this one even further. And yet, I was not chastened, there was no complaint,  there was only a beautiful fragrance.
It was the same throughout the herb garden. Careful as I was, I still would occasionally break a twig off of the plants. Basil, parsley, cilantro, spearmint... each plant would fill my olfactory senses as I dug and pulled around them. I was hurting them in order to save them. And I was being rewarded as their various scents filled the air.The thought of this process and its outcome caused me to think about the times of purging or pruning in my personal life, and I considered my own reactions to some of those events.

Experiences come upon us at times, that cause us suffering. Sometimes we feel terrible pain. The death of a loved one, the loss of a job, hurtful false accusations, abuse, things that cut us to the very core. 'How do I accept that deep, root disturbing stress when it is put upon me?' I wondered. I have faced things that were so distressing at the time, that I had refused to see any positive outcome that could come from it. It was only later that I recognized that the trial had grounded me in some way.  It had produced new growth in my spirit. I sadly admit, I have not often provided a fragrance that was rewarding or pleasing to others while I was going through hard, purging experiences.

I have known other folks that have faced terrible ordeals in childhood and/or adulthood. Some of them to this day are cynical and angry people, and it is fully understandable, given the tribulations they had faced. Some I know have suffered unspeakable ills, yet they are kind, caring, compassionate people. They are happy. While some chose to feed from the root of the bitterness of their trials, others had a deeper derivation that allowed them instead to press on, keep positive, and seek to learn from the experience. The lack of complaint and self pity in their attitude had filled the air around them with a pleasant aroma, the sweet smelling savor of patience and acceptance. And won them the respect of others.

It has been eloquently stated that "forgiveness is the fragrance of the flower left behind on the foot that trod upon it". I wonder if, accepting that what we are going through in troubled times will make us stronger and more compassionate, also causes a sweet savor to animate the aura that surrounds us? If we are humble and bear up under the strain gracefully, it humbles and feeds the heart of others who watch us. If we have a deep and genuine desire to turn a bad thing into a positive  growth experience, we too can leave a pleasing fragrance behind us when the trouble has passed.

I hope in coming days that I can accept gracefully  what comes upon me in this life. I want to complain less and learn more. If I have a weeding event come upon me, I want to be able to root out self pity and anger, so that humility and patience can grow. And if I’m a little broken in the process, well, I hope my attitude can give a pleasing fragrance to God... and others around me.