The fish in the pond,
Five young oak trees in the field
Angelica seeds sprouting both wild and garden varieties.
It is September.
It has survived but is very shy, no hand feeding just what it gets from the pond. Tail fins and dorsal fins all perfectly in tact. Bright orange and blue. Surviving well in the waters of our pond.
As Maya Angelou said:
‘My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with passion, some compassion, some humour, and some style.’
The five trees in the meadow with their wild flower meadow cut low are good to see. They have survived! We will hope that the seeds from the wild angelica which flowered well will slip into place between new grass and grow well next year as we wish for all other seeds from the planting of this wild space.
Angelica seeds. Here they are: larger, broader and more thickly oval, spongy textured lateral wings running down the edges, pale straw brown in colour with a sweet musky smell. These are from garden angelica.
Then because I want the flowers growing in my own garden I picked a seed head from the field. Wild angelica seeds are quite different. The seed is smaller, flatter and more oblong, the four distinct lateral wings are thin and narrowly edged.
They have sprouted already I wonder if they will be big enough to survive the winter.
Their seed leaves are thin and long not like the round wild carrot seed leaves I am growing as well.
Looking at these seedlings, will they fight?
‘To survive it is so often necessary to fight and to fight you have to dirty yourself.’ George Orwell
Then travel with me a little. Here are some thoughts about God and fighting to survive.
First there is a time of escape from an enemy when Moses says: ‘stand still, don’t be afraid and see the salvation of the LORD… The LORD shall fight for you, and you will hold your peace.’
Exodus 14:14
Then this from Paul to a group of Christians he loves very much.
‘ Do not take revenge… but leave room for God’s anger. ‘
God speaking: ‘ Vengeance is mine; I will repay.’ Actual words.
Then
‘Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.’
Fighting can mean holding strongly to your faith, with obedience to truth and by walking away from toxic situations you don’t lash out.
James says it this way:
‘Submit yourself to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.’
Paul when writing to the Ephesians sees that our survival depends on our minds as it is not flesh and blood that we fight but spiritual wickedness. He sees truth, right living, the gospel of peace with faith, and the word of God, combined with prayer as giving us strength. God’s helmet of salvation.
The passage I have tried to summarise is a good read. Ephesians 6: 10-18.
Then there is this thought.
‘ Conflict cannot survive without your participation.’
Wayne Dyer
It is another beautiful September day.
Take care,
Sandy 🙂
Morning shadows on a newly mowed meadow.