Blossoming

Spring trees in Minnesota remain a bit of a mystery to me!  I have loved the greening landscape, and appreciate the multitude of greens, but one thing makes me a little curious.  Here, it seems, leaves come before blossoms.  In California the flowers would be the first sign of spring, but on fruit trees, the leaves have all come in and the blossoms are only now daring to show themselves.  They are wise, for even though we have had some beautiful days we had a frost last night, but to my eyes, it’s strange and new.
 
When I ponder this though, I see a reflection of our healing journey.  We need the tough leaves before we can flower.  We need the hardier things to put out the feelers to ensure our safety before we can allow the more delicate parts to ​

show.  For if we let those paper thin signs of hope and beauty into the world too early, they can get crushed or damaged and never come to bear fruit.
 
In my own journey I have certainly seen this.  I needed to be in a safe place, away from those who caused me harm, before I could put out the feelers to see if it was, indeed, a time and place to allow the fragile petals to unfurl into the world.  The leaves, tougher and able to catch the sunlight and water to feed my soul, could send a message to my core if it ready for a more fruitful part of me.  The paper thin truth whispered into the air, the unfolding to offer sweet fragrance, the opening to feed with sweet nectar.  But if I had done this too early, I would have been blown away, or frozen and fallen to the ground to be crushed once more.
 
Sometimes this process can feel like it takes too long, like the flowers will never be safe to bloom.  But when you wait until the time and place are right to receive you, flowering is beautiful!  That bud of hope and healing can open and grow and be such a gorgeous gift to the world! 
 
If you are in a time of waiting, be gentle and patient with yourself in the waiting.  If you are watching the world for a sign that it’s ready for your next healing step, allow the space for it to happen.  If your leaves are out feeling for love in the world, let them feel.  When the time and circumstances are right, you will know.  And when that time comes, show yourself with courage, slowly opening to one who is welcoming, trustworthy, safe, loving.  For your unfurling is a beautiful gift to yourself and the world.
 
In the words of the poet Hafiz in the poem “It Felt Love”:
How did the rose
Ever open its heart
And give to this world
All its beauty?
It felt the encouragement of light
Against its being,
Otherwise,
We all remain
Too frightened