By Kim Ae-ran
I had a dream last night. In my dream, my eldest brother let me talk before people. He thought that I could share more efficiently because I have some experience.
At the beginning of the mission, I was not an eloquent speaker at all. Whenever I had to talk in public, I made much effort to overcome my limitations. I still have to improve my communication skill. Just as flowers and vegetables grow gradually, I am also improving myself little by little.
On that note, blooming flowers are one of the precious gifts we can share with others. Various wildflowers along the path of the forest take turns to bloom. Wildflowers, as they are, attract my attention. Wildflowers exist under big and small trees, but they are still happy and free in their lower places.
In one of the houses where we stayed during the intensive mission, there was a backyard with several trees, plants, flowers and grass. One day, the house owner wanted to dig up some parts of the grass so as to grow vegetables at home. She thought of transforming some parts of the lawn in consideration of her elder sister who would move into her house sooner or later.
For that project only, she had to pay considerable dollars. Out of heartfelt gratitude for allowing us to stay at her house for several weeks, I was willing to dig up some parts of the grass with a shovel and I replaced the hard ground with fertilized soil. Then, I made a simple fence with stones and bricks that I found around the wall of the house.
Carrying the fertilized soil from the front yard to the backyard took time, and I sweated a lot. I worked so hard that I even felt some pain in my right shin. I worked with all my heart because I was grateful for her generosity.
When the lawn was tidied up, she planted lettuce, chicory, eggplant, basil, sesame, kale, pepper, etc. The lawn in the backyard was transformed into a different look! What a joy of picking and eating vegetables grown in the garden!
When I came back from mission trips, I found more flowers blooming in the backyard of our community. Various kinds of flowers are now blooming in patio pots and backyard gardens. Vegetables are also growing in sunny vegetable beds and pots.
I noticed that the remaining community members take turns watering the gardens while two postulants with their formator are away from the community for summer vacation and retreat. A summer gardening guide for watering, weeding and harvesting has been well prepared to give information regarding the maintenance of the gardens.
We make constant efforts to make nature beautiful and peaceful, but the Canadian wildfires with smoke are still not under control. Our nature goes through its ups and downs as in our life. In spite of all the struggling situations, we shall have to give thanks for everything to the Lord.
"Praise the Lord from the earth, you, sea monsters and all the deeps of the sea; Lightning and hail, snow and thick clouds, storm wind that fulfills his command; Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars; animals wild and tame, creatures that crawl and birds that fly …" (Psalm 148:7-10)
The author is a member of the Daughters of St. Paul. Please feel free to visit her blog "A piece of sunshine" at mtorchid88.blogspot.com.