The Layers of Life

We recently took time to look at every nook and cranny of our yard as the layers of life kept coming. 

There were some parts that looked ready for the new season.

Years of preparing the dirt with compost and mulch to create a rich soil had shown that the plants were ready to grow where they were planted. 

While it took time for the layers to produce a healthy setting for beauty, I could see the evidence flowing up from the grass to the tops of the trees. 

My eyes held onto each space as the grit was held in my hands and the white, yellow and pink began to be seen. 

Then I turned my head to what the next cranny held. 

The layers here were different.

Another section needed a complete excavation and redo. 

The layers of life could be seen.

The layers of life could be seen as the yard was pulled away. 

We actually removed items that had been in place for more than a decade to begin again. 

On came the work gloves, a long-sleeved checkered shirt and old jeans with stains from previous adventures. 

Then a metal barrier was removed with a surprising result. 

Dry, dusty sections of soil could be seen as we pulled the steel away. 

In fact, there were true layers of not only grit but grime with a few critters that crawled away as their protection had been removed. 

There were even a bunch of rocks that could now be seen. I wondered if these could be added to our stacked rocks that seemed to show me the way. 

The layers reminded me of the layers of life in another way.

A closer look made me pause as the layers reminded me of the layers of life in another way. 

Sometimes life includes time to look at every nook of the world. 

There are parts that seem to be in order. Where time brought growth to a person at the right depth and space. 

When knowing how to do things came at a smooth pace to present a seamless outcome. Almost like it was meant to be beautiful from the start. 

These times came after weeks, months or even years of waiting for the knowledge to take hold, like the compost in a garden that isn’t seen yet is how dirt creates rich soil. 

Think about a time when the waiting came for you. 

Questions can come about how to create a seamless outcome in your life  

What did you need to know how to do? 

Were there others you looked for to teach you more about what to add to create a rich soil of life? 

Other times it can be as if the layers of life are pulled away for a person and others to see. 

This can be tender and fascinating.

Curious and frightening. 

Exciting and exhausting. 

It can hold a sort of ambivalence or feeling on both sides of a thing. 

When the layers are shown in such detail you may want to excavate or do the exact opposite.

When the layers are shown in such detail that you may want to excavate more to find out what each feeling can tell you or do the exact opposite. 

Put the metal cover back and walk away. 

This is what happened as I began to pause at the end of this part of our yard. 

Life has given me time to hold onto knowledge as incredibly beautiful memories were created. 

It has also given me moments when every layer can either be looked at with tenderness, curiosity and excitement as the excavation shows what can come next. 

Or it can be considered frightening as more knowledge is needed to add layers to what life is now. 

My choice will be to move forward. Where will my head turn to look at every nook and cranny? 

Let’s look at it together, my friends.