Tenacious: “to hold fast”

Mid-summer, and because I am so thoroughly blessed by living in a peaceful place and ‘soon to be’ lovely house [renovations are reaching the end], and have a comfortable gazebo in which to eat and read and from which to gaze at the many surprises that our yard supplies – well need I actually say what I feel!  I just want to relax in this state for many more days!!

But I know that as soon as August 1^st comes round I will feel the pressure of yet-unplanned days and schedules and it will be more difficult to take the time to relax and observe.  I want to hold on to this time but more so, I think I want to hold fast to the quality of observation and depth of peace that I have been enjoying while I move ahead to autumn expectations.

There is something of value that the word tenacious, meaning “to hold fast” implies.  There is a reason for the tenacity, for the holding on to. There is a source that makes it possible.

What drew my mind to this word was my amaryllis plant.  Each spring, once the flowers fade, I cut off the flower stalk and baby it along until I can put it outside in a pot because I read that through the summer the leaves will take in what is needed to replenish the bulb so that it can be stored and will bloom again next year.  Well, this year the flowers were absolutely gorgeous and when I cut off the stalk I felt the bulb and it seemed there was nothing left!  Now in the way renovations go we were packing things away so finally, upon my husbands assertion that there is just no way that bulb is going to grow I finally tossed it in the compost.  Yes, I did!

Well, as I glanced at the compost from time to time I noticed that the leaves which had drooped began to perk up and several new leaves were beginning to grow. When I tugged at the plant thinking that perhaps I should plant it in the garden it had produced long roots which were firmly holding fast to the debris in the compost and to tug it out would have meant to rip the roots.  So I left it and we enjoy the beauty of bright green leaves reaching out of the compost.

I hold on – be that to what I observe of our plants, flowers and birds or to what comes from the compost heap.  I hold on to the beauty, the peace, the lessons of seeds – growth – fruit/flowers, of bird challenges and feedings, of weeds, of the feel of the slight breeze in the evening as we observe the clouds and wait for the light to fade, of the candlelight in the darkness.  I hold on to the realization that even when the soil is a bunch of grass clippings without fertilizer somehow it can produce incredibly healthy looking leaves.

I hold on – because in all of this there is a source that gives me life, that refreshes and restores my soul, that brings healing and offers hope for new growth.  Within God’s creation there is the source of life just as within God’s Word there is also the source of life – both essential to my well being. 

In our yard, which some may think of as a hodge podge of garden spaces, trees, and grass I have observed that plants grow out of tree bark and dead trees as well. The rains have caused these to flourish.  I love the miniature worlds they produce – their own little ‘secret gardens’ that are all part of the whole. 

These photos show some of the smaller places in our yard and some of the plants that are holding fast. 

at the base of the willow tree

in the stump of a willow tree which was cut down about 15 years ago