A few months back, I happened to be in a store, pushing my cart through the isles. I was probably buying dogfood or other household items. Then something on an end-cap unit caught my eye: a seed kit! Usually, I am annoyed at retail and their constant push to get us thinking about the next holiday, months in advance. But this was a welcome sight.
The perfect diversion while I waited for winter to melt away. I've grown vegetables a few times, starting the seeds in March. Usually I'm not that organized, though, and resort to buying tomatoes and pepper plants, in May. But this was something new to me: Chamomile & Lavender. I imagined the delightful aromas of these two plants, adding the cute tin and its contents to my cart. Even if it turned out to be a flop, I could reuse the tin in one of my winter arrangements, I reasoned.
My youngest kiddo helped me sprinkle the seeds. One packet contained seeds that were light and powdery. The other hard, shiny black seeds that blended in too well with the potting soil. After about a week, the powdery seeds starting sprouting and there were many, many shoots. But the black seeds did little to nothing. I reread the seed instructions and realized I neglected an important step, in getting those seeds ready: a cold treatment.
'Cold Stratification' is the process of treating seeds to imitate what happens in the environment, with flowers that would normally go through some form of winter. The Lavender requires this if it is to properly germinate. The recommended time is about 4-5 weeks. There are several methods to do this--sand, peat moss, wet paper towels. We simply sprinkled the seeds on top of moist potting soil, covering the pot with plastic wrap, writing the date on the front so we could remember when to take them out of the refrigerator. And then, we waited...from March 30th to early May.
At first, it seemed like a long time to wait. But life quickly takes you to the next thing, so I shut the door and forgot about them for awhile. As the weather warmed and my outside plants started sprouting up, I remembered the seeds. Took them out and didn't see any signs of life. Gave them a little water and put them in the bay window with the other indoor plants. It was just days later when I saw several little green shoots, happily growing up out of the soil. It worked!
It is a good idea to follow the directions and not skip a step. Lesson learned, there. As I thought about this process some more, I realized there was another lesson for me: Sowing seeds and learning to wait.
We live in a culture that is instantaneous, with its technology, drive-thru windows and plastic credit. Delayed gratification can seem like a concept of generations past when there was no internet or 2-day delivery service. I confess I do not like to wait. I get excited by ideas, a new must-have item, and I want it now. But I am reminded that timing is everything. And it doesn't follow my watch. Things have a way working out. Schedules rearrange, by divine intervention, and it's often better than I could have planned it.
In our relationships, we may feel like hurrying our way through, wanting to fill those empty places in our hearts. Or maybe it's the anxiety of trying to connect with someone who thinks differently than we do. If we just find people we are comfortable with or can convince to be more like us, than all will be well. We do well to have like-minded friends who know and love us well. And we do well to reach out and see another person's perspective, developing character and empathy...reinforcing our respect for each other's humanity.
There is a story in the book of Matthew, chapter 13 called 'The Parable of the Sower'. It describes seed that falls on the roadside, among the rocks, and the thorns...and seed that falls on good soil. The analogies offered here are about spiritual matters. Sometimes the seeds get snatched away, or grow for awhile, or get choked out by weeds...and sometimes they grow strong, taking deep root, producing much fruit. Of course, we want that good soil where the seeds grow well. Who doesn't, right?
My thoughts return to my experience with the Lavender seeds. What if what is needed is a time of stillness and the cold, however unpleasant, in order to grow? Winter can seem long. It can be hard to rest. And like some seeds, there can be a tough, outer shell to keep germination from coming on too soon. Perhaps, everything does work together for good--even the hard times--to prepare us for growth.
There is life in the seeds. We can't control how they will grow; only put them out there. Keep sowing the good, cultivating what you've been given. A harvest awaits, when the time is right.
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