A few weeks ago I was volunteering in Jessica’s classroom. After reading with the kids, I mentioned to her teacher that I was going to go tidy up the plants in the patio garden. Her wise Montessori guide kindly cautioned me to be mindful in my “cleanup efforts” because some of the flowers were going to seed.
As Jessica and I worked outside in the backyard yesterday afternoon, I recalled her teacher’s words and I delighted in collecting the bountiful harvest of seeds that my plants were generating so effortlessly. Usually when plants are going to seed something beautiful and intentional is happening. Though they look dried up and done-for they’re just in the process of offering up next year’s colors. This principle has wide application, especially in a world where we put so much emphasis on the way things appear. Sometimes appearances are deceiving.
