From Ann Mescher
2 February 2022 Voice of the Holy Spirit Heard through Life’s Wind
Yesterday morning I brought four small potted Christmas trees outside my front door in preparation for their planting early this spring. I wanted to be able to see all four trees from the window near my front door, so I placed them in a row between two other planters. As on most days, there was a strong breeze and I watered each pot in hopes of keeping the four upright.
Coming back to see the four trees after an hour, I was saddened to see just one upright. Near the larger bushes, I nestled each in a place I thought might be sufficiently shielded from the wind but with plenty access to sunshine and rain water. Later in the morning, I endeavored to find alternate spots for several, as my first choices weren’t all careful enough to keep the small trees from tipping over again in the wind. I rested content last night knowing the four remain upright, two visible from my front window to the southwest, and two from the southeast window.
This morning before Nicholas took the bus to school, I gently explained that we’d plant the largest first, with its roots and branches unconstrained, fully free to grow. Perhaps someday when the tree is still young it could be transplanted into another spot, ever strengthening and growing. Nicholas said to me that we must buy a fifth Christmas tree for me. I said to my son that mine is the largest we decorated for Christmas, and it stands now upright against the western stone wall; beautiful and strong it is, but without roots to grow.
I shared with Nicholas how some of the potted trees had blown over until I found adequate shelter, nestled with each bush, from life’s wind. I asked if any of the protecting bushes could bring a little tree upright again were it to fall? He shook his head no, understanding the voice of the Holy Spirit through yesterday’s wind. The second tree is for Ashlyn, the third for Maya, and the fourth smallest for Liliana. I would have given anything in the whole world to have adopted all four, as I cannot imagine growing up in absence of either my two sisters or my one brother.
Saint Patrick’s is a faith community where each and every one is known and treasured, a faith community of protectors from life’s winds; standing together such faith community will not fall.