It’s a trendy concept now in the Health and Wellness world. Mindfulness means focusing your attention on what is around you, paying attention to a particular thing, and letting your thoughts and worries go. It is not a new idea—It has been a part of contemplative practice for centuries. Contemplatives are taught to focus on a mantra or sacred word, repeating it silently to ourselves as we let other thoughts and worries go. We can also focus on a candle flame, an icon, a flower, or whatever can keep our attention as we try to still our chattering “monkey mind.” It sounds simple, but is hard to do—that’s why it’s called “practice.”
A couple of weeks ago I was sitting in the sunshine by a lake cradled by mountains. My attention was caught by the lovely pink fireweed flowers in front of me, swaying gently in the breeze. Now fireweed is an amazing plant. It is a perennial wildflower that is known for colonizing open spaces with little competition, such as the site of a forest fire. It quickly spreads, and soon the burned-over soil is covered with a mass of spectacular pink flowers. In Britain, where it is known as “willowherb” or “bombweed”, it is used to colonize bomb craters. It provides a blanket of vegetation to enable other plants to grow, and to encourage animals to return.
First Nations peoples valued fireweed for its many uses: its young shoots and leaves can be eaten, or boiled and made into tea. The flowers can be made into jelly. It is high in vitamins C and A, iron and potassium. It is the territorial floral emblem of the Yukon, featured on their flag.
So fireweed is anything but a humble weed—it is an amazing symbol of the wonderful regenerative powers of nature, of God’s creation. We have all been horrified at the destruction caused by forest fires throughout our province, and indeed throughout the country, this summer. Yet destruction is not the end of the story. Its seeds buried in the soil can withstand fire, and with a bit of rain will germinate, grow and propagate quickly, covering the ugly burned ash-covered area with green shoots and then beautiful pink flowers.
To me, this is a symbol of how God’s love can regenerate even blasted lives. When disaster such as fire strikes, it may seem that everything is lost, and it is easy to give in to despair. But neighbours rally around, communities work together to provide aid and assistance, and with God’s help, people are able to rebuild.
So as I sat in the sunshine staring at the fireweed, I was able to put my worries and scattered thoughts aside. I was able to focus on the lovely pink flowers, and to focus on how they epitomized the regenerative power and glory of God. I was able to feel the love that God shows through creation.
Thanks be to God!
