I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Michelle Estep’s reflection Your Soul is a Garden.
The garden sanctuary often speaks to the contemplative – the birthplace of Creation with its ancient calling towards beauty, rejuvenation and abundance. Eden becomes a place for the senses and a place for the spirit, an experiential journey to know the One Who Knows Us; which is why so many of us sojourners seek refuge in the sanctuary of the garden space.
In moments of disequilibrium I flee to the space that caresses my aches, calms my spirit and eases my mind. The magic of the unfurling of the rose or the fresh scent of the pine brings me back to Eden, where the broken become whole. My younger self yearned for this garden space always, and would throw spiritual temper tantrums when life would prevent me from seeking the respite of the rose; however, as I matured I have reclaimed anew that ancient truth proclaimed to us from long ago: your soul is a garden.
In the garden of my soul I see beauty with my spiritual eyes, even amongst the world of busyness and duties. In my son’s eyes I see the unfurling of joy as he experiences solving a difficult math problem for the first time. The beauty of the freshly clean linen caresses the bed as I tuck it tightly and give thanks for the rest that will happen here later in the evening. Grooming chores bring order and cleanliness to the physical – metaphorical hedges trimmed and weeds pulled to give space for growth and development.
My soul overflows with the beauty of the garden from within.
In the garden of my soul I hear the ancient song with my spiritual ears, even amongst the noise of the city. The steady scrape of the spoon on the bottom of the pot becomes The Song of Dusk announcing the turning of the Earth towards sustenance and rejuvenation. The persistent hum of the plane becomes The Hymn of Arrival announcing the reunification of loved ones, whether that union be near or in distant lands. The roar of the motor becomes The Psalm of Provisions proclaiming the approach of our necessities, enabling us to transform house into home. And still, I give thanks, for the garden becomes stagnant without the comings and goings of the chirping birds and the buzzing bees.
My soul overflows with the rejuvenation of the garden from within.
In the garden of my soul I feel the presence of the Ancient One, even when fulfilling my obligations as wife, mother and employee. My feet are grounded in the meditation of purpose as I keep my “why” present in all that I think, do and say. My mind is connected to the Spirit as I offer every breath to the One Who Knows Us and trust in the meticulous care that will be granted to me and those whom I love. My soul is in constant conversation with The One Who Knows Us as I engage with my day and make 1,000 tiny decisions that eventually erode my will to reveal who I am meant to manifest. In the nothingness of surrender, trusting assurance forms a river of peace.
My soul overflows with the abundance of the garden from within. The Ancient Garden reveals itself to us when we claim the present moment as our own. We are not passengers merely reacting to life happening to us, we are sojourners and we choose the path we walk during our visit through this temporal space. This day I claim the beauty of the garden so that I can see the many gifts granted to me; I welcome the opportunities for rejuvenation, whether they are meant for me, or for another; and I surrender to the One Who Knows Us so that I may be filled with abundance.
Michelle Estep is a Discalced Carmelite Secular and is blessed to be guided towards greater self-knowledge and contemplation by the great Carmelite saints. She delights in tending to her physical garden; however, her personal mission is to bring beauty to the ordinary to help inspire people to cultivate their own spiritual garden from within.
