The Weeds That Grow In Between

 

The big picture is made of seemingly smaller things. All these small things are no doubt important. Some of these small things we tend to overlook. Nevertheless its like that old saying of "the Devil is in the details". 

As you're walking down an old sidewalk you may tend to notice that there may be some cracks that grow through the cracks. Life springs in between where it originally would before the concrete foundation. It didn't have a preference or wait for the best time, but nature took its best opportunity to grow even if it wasn't the best spot. There is some great wisdom in the weeds and green that grow in the cracks and in between. 

It may seem like weeds are a nuisance when seeing them in a place where they aren't supposed to be. But the sidewalk cracked and left itself open for vulnerability and opportunity. It was a gradual process and people neglected to fill the cracks in. Nature and the environment have a powerful way of reclaiming the world around it. Who's to say that we have anything to say when nature is in charge and at play?  

What we pay attention to matters. If we start be seeing all the diverse and unique plants that grow in between the sidewalks then we will have a different outlook. How fascinating and curious our environment can change and evolve over time. When the so called weeds come to our attention then we can't simply un see it. That attention directs us towards more weeds growing in between sidewalks. Some of these so called weeds will produce flowers. Some will be sticky and green. There is plenty of variety and refreshing perspectives  right in front of us when our eyes are open. 

The cracks always get bigger over time. This allows for vegetation to expand into even bigger micro ecosystems. Ecosystems that allow for more biodiversity. Little bugs and tiny creatures can start to utilize the cracked spaces in the concrete. There are no missed opportunities for growth in nature. It's the gradual change over time that makes it beautiful. The process is something to behold. It is both spontaneous and discretely planned. It's a process of creativity. Nature works within the limits it has and uses it to the most efficient degree. Sometimes it manipulates it over time or sometimes it will go elsewhere. When an opportunity is visible, nature does not waste any time in acting no matter how slow it may seem to our naked eyes. 

Are we like the weeds growing in between the cracks? Can we be like the weeds that are growing in between the cracks? Too often we fall prey to a life that is heavy on scheduling and routine. Predictability and accessibility are key in this modern rat race world. Anytime something goes out of whack we tend to fall into a realm of anxiety and confusion. Why can't we work with the hand that is dealt to us? We can be creative and spontaneous like the weeds that grow in between the cracks. The fact of the matter is that unplanned and unpredictable events will always happen in life. It's how we act upon the things that we can't control that matters. Are we more conscious actors or unconscious reactors? Proactive or reactive?

We can patch the cracks with more concrete or some filler, but that just repairs the original version of the sidewalk. It's much more rigid and not about working with the organic nature of what is. Sure you will get a repaired sidewalk, but it will never be the same like it use to be. It will be easy to see where the fresh new filler is placed in. The cracks will be covered like a band aid that covers a wound. There might be more uniqueness in the cracks that let the weeds and life in. 

The cracks get bigger. We fill them up. We patch them up. Overtime they come back. The process starts over. The cracks may look a little different, but they are cracks nonetheless. With plenty of space for life to come through. Plenty of space for change. Plenty of space for a New Path. 

DG