What a surprise! I was searching for some needed green space in a concrete sprawl of an area – and found this beautiful recaptured nook of an arboretum on the campus of a local college/university and it surely provides the students and the public needed green space. I saw it on the map and looked interesting enough, drove, opened the door and the five people 3 steps away from my car looked gathered and the woman organizer said: “Here for the tree planting?” ah….  sure – yeah – why not, I thought – and grabbed my hat and sunscreen and up we climbed this beautiful slope. Everything is in miniature in my opinion for the greenspaces here – back home we have big expanses – but I don’t think I ever stumbled upon tree planting!

They provided the gloves, shovels, and plants and were taught how to dig the right hole and tamper the soil down after planting. They were student educators and this education was exactly up my alley for learning. I loved it….

A Surprise Planting of Myself in the Present…

and the views? unparalleled of the city below…  and the students? Never shoveled or held worms…  (and wow great worms – even the educators could show the students the worm poop in a compost conversation) And the educators? Tickled pink that I just “happened upon them” that we were all there to be there…  I planted 3 trees. I didn’t expound upon plant science knowledge, it was nice to just appreciate what I knew and keep it to myself, but later with the educators I explained how I found them on the map, and my background for putting your foot in the door for experiences for college and university and life…

And then I got to be the substitute grandma-like person to entertain a baby – me in my red hat must have caught his attention – and the sun shining on his face caught mine, so mom and I maneuvered the stroller back into the shade. And he seemed to enjoy the whole experience. He was 10 months old – and mom and dad enjoyed planting plants and having a day out…  

That was a quick 1 hour and a half “wow” to that moment – I could have turned many directions and even just sat in my car for an hour waiting (was waiting for my travelling companion to have a get together at breakfast with friends) but this was the turn I took and so appreciated it…

I know the best devotion we can give the Lord is praise – and love – and thankfulness just to be present in the moment that He could come up with “last minute” – when we are just not rushing here and there…  I knew later I was rushed on the way home – but here I was able to check my time at the same time as relaxing and realizing my blessings… A BLESSED Planting of Myself in the Present as well as planting trees.

Realize blessings and thank the Lord – THANKS LORD!

Amen