Week 5b: Pondering the Wisdom of the Prairie Grasses
As I was walking around the Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart,
with my hosts Sally and Jim Longley, Sally was pointing out that some of the
lawns were being replaced with Prairie Grass. Sally tells me that the extensive root systems of the prairie grass were far more beneficial
in the ecosystem than the manicured lawns that we tend to cultivate. She
went to extoll the virtues of the prairie grasses. Most of this grass
plant is out of sight, extending some 2-5 meters into the ground. They
slow runoff, recharge and filter groundwater, they nourish the soil and
increase its organic matter, they reduce erosion, offer resistance to invasive
species and they provide a habitat for other organisms. The prairie
grasses themselves are resistant to drought and if they cannot find enough
water, the plant above the ground will brown and dry off, but the roots system
remains alive below the surface.
Note the lawn on the very left of the diagram for comparison.
I thought the prairie grass was a potential metaphor for the spiritual
life and the gift of spiritual direction. While this metaphor has some appeal
and could be explored in more depth in the north American context, I wondered
if their might be an equivalent in the Australian landscape.
And maybe is it not just a metaphor for the spiritual life but also
works for the dreams I am cultivating for spiritual accompaniment in the margins.
Unlike previous posts, the photos at the top of this post one were
sourced from the internet.
With
deep gratitude to those who have offered hospitality over this weekend including Sally and Jim
Longley- my friends from Sydney currently studying in Elkhart and the congregation of Prairie St Mennonite Church.
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