The Bloom of Stress

I've learned a great deal about landscapes, plants and new lawn in the past month or two. A recent newspaper article I read taught me even more--not just about plants, but about humanity in general. The title of the article was:

The backyard of Grace House has been transformed into a place of beauty and rest. We owe a debt of gratitude to Hal Sconyers and both Rotary clubs of Davis, to Lorell and Morley Hardaker, Cid Barcellos, Bill Sluis, Doug Houck, Covenant Carpenters and Summit Youth Group from University Covenant Church as well as the Rhythm Youth Group from Davis Chinese Christian Church and so many more. In addition, many of our homeless guests put in several hours of back breaking labor.

The title of the article caught my eye, simply because unlike our Master Gardener Cid Barcellos, I am more inclined to have a purple thumb rather than a green thumb, when it comes to successful gardening. Suddenly, it was as if God were calling my attention to a deeper meaning in the answer:

How true of people too! I'm continually in awe of the spiritual fruit that blooms so abundantly in the lives of our guests. Here are just two examples. One guest recently transitioned into an apartment. He is no longer homeless, yet he has so little in the way of furniture and worldly goods. He has been waiting for several months for a promised computer to do his school work. We were both overjoyed when the computer finally arrived from the donor just this past week. A day later, he told me, "The computer doesn't work at all!" I'm embarrassed to admit that I was inclined to be frustrated and disappointed about the situation but his patience was immense and more importantly he was forgiving! His stress had bloomed into the sweet fragrance of patience and forgiveness.

Our homeless guests have experienced the stress of living on the street weathering 108 degree heat, having their "tents/homes" destroyed by local authorities, breathing (24-7) the smoked filled unhealthy air from recent fires. And because of the constant stress, they bloom best!

The scent of newly planted honeysuckle growing on the wall of the garage behind Grace House wafted over the patio as I stood on the back porch. I clutched my cell phone tightly in my hand as I listened to my 87 year old mother share the news that she has cancer. I was unaware of what was happening around me in that frozen moment in time, but one of our guests was aware. Like so many of our guests, he has known the stress of human suffering which bears the fruit of compassion (literally meaning, "to suffer with").

Later that day, still in shock I numbly went through the motions of wiping the dining room table when a hand reached out and ever so gently touched my arm. I turned and tear filled blue eyes bore through my heart and soul as he whispered, "How is your mom?"

He had been quietly sitting on the new patio...a silent witness to my pain at my mother's news and he offered compassion.

The Spirit of God, our compassionate guests and the honeysuckle in the new back yard at Grace House sweetly remind me...

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