It was a Thursday after a hectic day and a flu shot. As I
sat in my recliner looking at the beautiful weather outside, an idea for an
adventure and a story came to mind so I grabbed my camera and my bike and rode
to learn and document how does broccoli grow on North Magnolia Street.
With my camera strung around my neck and Israel
Kamakawiwo’le (google him) singing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful
World” from my iPhone, my stiff knees pedaled my bike on my almost-a-mile journey.
As I pedaled and listened to one of my favorite songs, my
heart embraced the joy of the lyrics. I noticed that I pedaled to the beat of
the song, and I felt my face smile.
The joy of the journey became a balm to my day. I settled in for the
ride to where the broccoli grew.
As I turned into the driveway on North Magnolia Street, I
noticed that Israel sang the song twice as I arrived at my destination. Dismounting my bike, I notified the
broccoli grower that I came to observe how the broccoli was growing.
With camera at the ready, I began to shoot the tall,
blue-green plants marveling at their height and vigor. Small florets of
broccoli were centered and protected by huge, healthy leaves, which grew on
thick stalks poking out of the dark earth.
Underneath a fading blue sky and waking crescent moon, two
bald eagles flew low over my head. The eagles reminded me of my Jesuit-formed
perspective. Everything comes from
God and returns to God. With my
heart knowing and grateful for all of God’s blessings, I thanked God for
blue-green broccoli, for eagles, for broccoli growers and for broccoli
planters. God’s blessings included
sunshine warming my face. The sunshine provided the means necessary for
photosynthesis for broccoli growth.
God’s blessing of nourishing rain watered the broccoli, and it’s
branches raised high in rejoicing like arms raised in prayerful praise.
Yes, God helps broccoli grow on North Magnolia Street and
everywhere it grows. God helps us
grow, too. God sends us
blessings/gifts to guide and help us on our faith journey and to enrich our
relationship with God and our brothers and sisters.
