Putting the Garbage Out

     There are just 10 days before Lent begins. March 1 is Ash Wednesday. The rhythm of the liturgical year helps us to enter into spring. The annual spring observation of how things that appeared to be dead will be coming to life helps us to foster a similar spiritual dynamic. We even promote “death to our sins” so that new life may come with forgiveness and reconciliation.

     The dynamic of death and new life makes me think about gardening and providing nutrition to the garden. Recently, I have been in discussions with some of my Norbertine brothers about composting the organic waste from the St. Norbert Abbey kitchen. We have done this for many years at the Abbey, but we are looking to improve the process. We want to build more stable containers for the compost and facilitate the use of the resulting humus on the vegetable garden.

     I have done presentations over the years for parish groups during Lent. One of the usual elements of my talk is how composting works. Beginning with organic waste, mixed with dried leaves, grass, dirt, small sticks, etc., and adding a bit of water and air, the resulting material becomes very rich organic fertilizer. Basically, we take what was once tasty food and mix it with what was once part of beautiful nature in the form of leaves and flowers, etc., to form a pile of hot, decomposing, natural waste. Most would call it “garbage.” When the sun shines on it, and the rains moisten it, and some hard labor mixes it, it fosters a process of decomposition. The result is that which was once tasty and beautiful becomes something that will contribute to the next cycle of tasty and beautiful natural produce.

     I find a similar dynamic in my own life. I pray and reflect upon my experiences of old, both the good and the bad, and add to them God’s awesome forgiveness, blessing, and healing. By this process, and with time, I am enriched with new insight and awareness with which I enter into new relationships and new ministries. Wisdom and grace often come to us through the mix of that which seems to be the useless “garbage” of life. Out of that apparent waste can come something truly useful.

     Perhaps during Lent you can imagine how you are compiling the “garbage” from the past, recent and long ago. Then, by God’s grace and your prayerful efforts, you will experience the richness of new life and possibility at Easter.

Peace Fr. Andy