Things we gained in the fire

we must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.
-Joseph Campbell

A soft afternoon. Babou is taking her nap and I am at my desk overlooking the backyard, taking in the view, all the plants finally in their right places, all in different stages of grown-up-ness, all looking pretty happy to be where they are...

Yesterday I finished planting the vegetable garden. Most of the day was spent digging and planting and marking and resulted in a garden that will surely satisfy us this summer. All told, we have eight heirloom tomatoes underplanted with marigolds, four Italian eggplant, four peppers (hot and sweet), four summer squash, pole beans and snap peas entwined in Babou's teepee, and a wide variety of various greens and herbs.

All the vegetables I planted this year were from my brother-in-law and his family who are starting an organic, heirloom plant company with the majority of the seeds being biodynamic.

I am so happy for my brother-in law and his family to be starting this company. This past year has been a very tough one for them; a changing one for them. Last summer their home was devastated by the fires that raged across California.

It was amazing to see the progression of their lives since they essentially lost everything that they had had. Both my brother and sister-in-law believe in, and live, a very alternative lifestyle. They are committed to living off of the land and growing their family as a joint venture. Over the holidays I had asked my sister-in-law what direction they were going to go in, and she had confided that they were really trying to just digest what had happened and wait to see what direction life wanted them to take.

I was very impressed with the openness and faith in life she demonstrated so naturally, something that would be very difficult for me. Given the same scenario, I would have been trying to regain control of my direction, instead of stepping back and waiting for life to point the way.

Life did point the way for them and has really taken them in a new, positive direction seemingly effortlessly. Everything seems to be falling in place perfectly, moving them along under its own momentum. It is truly inspiring to see, and really makes me reflect on the concept of faith and of effortless action.

To remember to trust life, and to let go.

I have such a hard time reconciling letting go and moving ahead. Their story is such a lesson in faith, in life, and in what is gained by being lost.