April in Vermont, Me in the Garden and Prayers for the Unlovely

I spent a beautiful weekend outdoors.  It was great to finally be able to enjoy yard work in preparation for gardening.


But first, before I went out into the yard on Friday, I (like the rest of the country) was captivated by the news unfolding regarding the Boston Marathon bombers.  By the time I sat down with my coffee, I learned that the older brother had already died, a police officer had been shot and killed, and the younger brother was at large.  I tuned in and out much of the rest of the day. 

While a mixed-up, where-did-things-go-wrong, nineteen year-old boy (call him a man, if you want to, but really...) fled wounded and desperate, hunkering down like the fugitive that he was, I was happily raking leaves long buried under last season's first snow fall and opportunistically making preparations for planting.  I was breathing in clean air and sunshine, relishing a new day with its fresh mercies and the hopeful potential for what will be. 

A stark contrast to the feelings of those involved in the massive manhunt and city under lock-down a mere two hours south of me. And, not oblivious to the grief, sorrow and fear those fellow citizens [practically neighbors] were experiencing, I was heart-sick in the midst of my joy.  Who didn't feel the same that day?  I'm sure the entire nation was feeling heart-sick and fearful.  I joined everyone in wanting him found and the madness to end.

I want justice to be served.  If the little boy that died were my grandson, the police officer my son; if the women were my daughters or sisters, I think I'd want him to suffer horribly.  I think, very possibly, I'd want to dispel every ounce of my anguish in causing him bodily harm with my own hands.  But that's not the case and, while I'm very sympathetic to those grieving their demise, I have a different perspective. 

There's something about the youthful innocence in the pictures they keep displaying, and in the testimony of his former classmates and teammates, that makes me sad for this kind and gentle soul, recently turned villain.  What happened to him and when did he make that fateful wrong turn?  Was there a sense of abandonment when his parents moved across the ocean while he was still at a tender, developing age?  Was it his esteem for his [misguided] older brother that caused him to follow his destructive path?  Could he have been steered in a different direction (or perhaps stay the course of his high school days) if he had proper adult influence?  It's the what-could-have-been that is making me sad for him.

So, this is my prayer; as I lift up the injured, and the surviving loved-ones of the deceased, for supernatural comfort and strength to carry on, I'm also praying for that wayward young man. 

I absolutely believe that he should be punished and suffer the consequences of his heinous crime, but I pray that it's filtered through God's grace, so that the outcome as it unfolds, will be according to His will and purpose.


And with that off my chest... on to my gardening adventures:

I learned that rain boots are not muck boots.  Those deeply grooved soles hang on to poo mightily!  (Yeah, my tidying-the-yard chores included raking the go-do-your-business area, too).

The crabapple tree is budding!

 

And so is the lilac tree!!

And the very best... the daffodils are finally blooming.  Oh. happy. day.

Sunshine on a stem.


 

 

It's like a radiant smile, isn't it?

 

 

 



There's going to be a new garden bed right here.  I'm going to see if I can do a lasagna garden method to prepare the soil in lieu of tilling... we'll see if I have time before our last frost date and planting time.


 

The hosta bullets are peeking their noses out.

 

And so are the peonies.  Spring holds such promise!


 

This one leaf comes up year after year, but never a bloom.  It resembles a tulip leaf to me, but not exactly.  I'm not sure what it is.  There are no others in the vicinity... or in the entire yard.  Does anyone know what it could be and whether I can offer it anything to encourage a bloom?


 

Today's work is done.


 

And I enjoyed lingering a while to take in the beauty already being protrayed and contemplate what's to come.



Happy Earth Day!!
Pam

 

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