the HEART

I recently visited a friend who has joined the ranks of community gardening in the city of Denver. We walked his plot picking raspberries, strawberries and even watermelons. When he pointed out his tomato plants to me, he explained that some sort of mold had caused the tomatoes to fail this summer. Apparently, last summer the tomatoes were great. Just behind the drooping tomatoes, he pointed out the peppers and said, “But look at the peppers. They’re amazing!”

Tomatoes last summer. No tomatoes this summer. 
What grew well once, didn’t grow as well again. 
This year is NOT last year. 

Embrace the mystery of growth.

Maybe last year you experienced tremendous growth in a certain area, but currently you are struggling in that same area. Perhaps back then you made great strides forward, and now you feel as if you are making no progress at all or even taking steps backwards.

Don’t beat yourself up. 
There is a predictability AND an unpredictability to how your heart grows. 

There is a time to work and plant. A time to water. 
A time to wait and see what grows. 
You did the work. You put in the blood, sweat & tears… and the tomatoes failed. 
So the tomatoes aren’t that great this year, but what about the peppers?

Remember, this year is NOT last year. 
What grew well once, might not grow as well again.
Who knows what will grow this year!

The ways in which you’re growing might not be the same ways in which you previously grew. Your current growth might not be in the area you had hoped, but don’t overlook the peppers.​

Your heart is both mysterious and unpredictable. 
Be patient with yourself.  
Do the hard work. 
Then enjoy whatever sprouts to life in you… because all growth is GOOD.