Lately I have enjoyed getting into the garden when I can.  Often this has been in the early evening as the summer light lingers and the babes sleep.

In these moments it has been particularly satisfying to gently train some creepers.  One of these, the native ‘Happy Wanderer’, has been so prolific that I discovered that it had begun to twist in on itself, lapping over its own vines and getting tangled.

I hadn’t provided this plant a high enough lattice to grow up and so it had instead turned in on itself.  I have now attended to this, improvising with twisted wire and pliers.

However this plant’s growth led me to reflect on us. I think we humans can be the same.  Some of us are ‘fast’ growers, some of us are ‘slow and steady’ plants, yet most of us need a ‘lattice’.

We need to be supported and stretched: intellectually, spiritually, emotionally and physically too.  If we are not, we tend to start curling up; becoming tangled within our own heads, twisted in our feelings, stunted in our thoughts or actions.

The kind of ‘lattice’ supports that each of us need in our lives will vary.  These may be found in the arts, deep reading, sport, theology, prayer practices, serving others, education, puzzles, or for a holistic approach, perhaps all of these things combined.

We each need to be supported and stretched, for we have this inner impulse to grow and if we don’t grow up, we grow weary in body, mind or soul. \Whatever our ‘lattice’ is, I don’t think we will find it in continually collapsing in front of the telly or in surfing the net. Such things can be relaxing and distracting for a while, but ultimately they don’t satisfy. And, furthermore, it is when we think that we have arrived that we are in most danger of becoming completely stagnant.

No wonder that Jesus describes himself as ‘the Way’ and calls us on a journey of ongoing discovery, growth and discipleship – rather than to some illusionary, conceited mythology that we are already there.

Blessings on you, in your gardening and in your growing.  May you find the ‘lattice’ supports that you need, so that you can, day by day, grow into all that God dreams you to be.

Rev Sal Douglas