PROPAGATE
/MY MOTHER was a prolific propagator; of many things: encouragement, grace, advice, sincere interest, gossip (although she would call it by names such as concern and curiosity). But, let's start with her African Violets.
For the entirety of my years "at home" these things were everywhere that a bit of filtered light streamed into our house. She was an african violet evangelist. Any time a guest in our home would comment on her beautiful violets she would encourage, yea, implore them to take one home. Each one was handed over with a bit of advice: "Don't overwater, don't get the leaves wet, don't thank me for it that's bad luck, talk to it (the plant) each time you water it."
In the early years of our marriage, My Amazing-Missus and I took home and killed a succession of these picky, persnickety, delicate little pieces of fauna. Undaunted, she would give us another. When mom would come to visit we could count on her sticking her finger in the pot of each of our plants and her nose in our business--out of genuine love and concern and a bit of fretting. "It might be happier with a little more light." Was she talking about our plant or our marriage?
I read an interesting opinion piece about propagation. In this case it was not about plants and beauty, but half-truths, lies, misinformation and how fertile the ground is to receive these poison seeds of propaganda. Social media was getting a lot of the blame for the choking spread, but what about the increasing appetite for it? How do we seperate the wheat from the chaff so to speak?
Maybe, like an African Violet, bringing some of this stuff into the proper light will help me be better informed and and healthier.
You know what's wonderful? There are still so many voices of truth and goodness. They are not always the loudest in the room but they are there and they are consistent. Take our two daughters-in-law. They are propagators. Many of the plants we have in our home today came from them, including those that sit on my desk or hang in the window in a cool macrame hanger My Amazing-Missus made for me. Not only do they cultivate seeds and cuttings, but they give joy and care to everyone who enters their orbit including our GrandKids and their old in-laws; along with plant care tips.
It makes me grateful for the propagators of love and peace and joy throughout our world and culture. Where would we be without them these days.
I'm writing this in my journal right how: Propagate goodness, truth and beauty today.
The words of Jesus from The Gospel of Mark 4:3-9 The Message
“Listen. What do you make of this? A farmer planted seed. As he scattered the seed, some of it fell on the road and birds ate it. Some fell in the gravel; it sprouted quickly but didn’t put down roots, so when the sun came up it withered just as quickly. Some fell in the weeds; as it came up, it was strangled among the weeds and nothing came of it. Some fell on good earth and came up with a flourish, producing a harvest exceeding his wildest dreams.
“Are you listening to this? Really listening?”