There’s something comforting about seeing small and simple plants grow down the middle of my driveway. I get the same feeling when I see grass growing through cracks in the sidewalk. To me, these are testament to the power of small things and reminders of man’s inability to conquer the natural world.
Knowing trees, I understand the meaning of patience. Knowing grass, I can appreciate persistence.
~ Hal Borland
Due to its simple form and presence at our feet, it’s all too easy to dismiss the power of grass. Yet, its strength is in its numbers and its ability to persist despite being trampled on over and over again. Below, the shadow of a fox trail appears in the grass behind Rainbow Haven beach.
Grass changes with the seasons and makes no futile attempt to hold strong against the wind. It knows its limitations. In the winter, it hunkers down under the snow and quietly waits for spring. When sunshine and rain permit, grass seizes the opportunity to grow to great heights in just a short amount of time, confounding those tasked with mowing it down.
It’s most beautiful when at last it goes to seed. In the early morning light, the grass in the photos below looks like a magical mist rising in the forest.
Growth begins when we begin to accept our own weakness.
~ Jean Vanier
Flandrum Hill 