The Graze V.157: Falling Apart

Dear Friends:

This apple tree sits on the edge of the old orchard at Mission Farm. It is full of holes, it leans heavily toward the road, it is difficult to see how it stays upright (much less, produces buds of new life!) Big pieces of bark and tree parts have fallen off to the ground.  I am fairly sure a porcupine has taken up residence in its hollow trunk. It is falling apart.  

From this fallen tree there is a beautiful vision for the transformation of the orchard. From the memories of a thriving bakery, emerges a community kitchen. From the drainage work in the meadow behind the church, Dan Snow, begins the creation of the amphitheater (Odeon). The bees arrived this week and our gardens are being filled with compost to nourish the produce that we will grow this season. In this historic place, all transformation comes out of what has gone by, what has fallen apart. This is the natural cycle and pattern of life. It is not always comfortable. New life requires that we find new meaning together.

Falling apart is be beginning of new life. Richard Rohr talks about this process of transformation. He writes about the mystery of pain and chaos as something old falls apart. He reminds us that this is the moment that our soul can listen at a deeper level.

May we listen deeply together to learn the wisdom of Creation and feel the abiding love that flows through this beautiful world.

Blessings,

Lisa+