Consolation of Growth

“Why do you sit here weeping in front of my garden?” I stood up slowly and noticed an old, dark-skinned woman standing before me. Her eyes were a warm green that matched the color of her gardening gloves. Atop her first-stained apron stuck a name tag that said “Growth.” Behind her lay a gate, through which I could see an expanse of beautiful multicolored fruits, vegetables, and flowers that seemed to radiate with life. I scrambled up from the pile of dead leaves upon which I sat onto my feet and offered her my hand to shake. “I weep because I am sad! ‘Woeful songs turn out to be my consoling companions” (Boethius 1).’ No matter what I attempt to change or who I seek for advice, I cannot figure out how to better myself!”

“Follow me through my garden,” Growth declared, “and I will help you.” She led me into a grove of beautiful apple trees that stretched for miles. Their leaves were a bright, verdant green that matched the color of the woman’s eyes and were mixed with beautiful red apples that shone with dew. Though rough with new bark, the color of their trunks nearly matched the brown of her skin in hue. Each of the trees’ roots snaked lazily through loose, wet soil before dropping deep into the ground, while their branches expanded up and out and seemed to embrace the heavens. The woman deftly grabbed an apple with her left hand and slid a knife out of her tool belt with her right. She began to cut away at the apple and sang, saying,

“These trees, 

Whose trunks now reach heights,

That scrape the very sky, 

And whose roots create a vast maze of angles,

That even cunning Theseus could not solve, 

Began as seeds, 

Nearly too small to be grasped, 

Now stand as pillars, 

That transcend human reach, 

Enjoining worlds.”

I did not notice that Growth had finished signing until she had tossed her knife aside and handed me a tiny black seed. She then spoke, “To understand the nature of Growth, you must first realize that the point from which one begins does not determine his potential to rise and grow. Though smaller than any other seed in my garden, the apple seed grows into the largest plant in my garden.”

We sat for some time, the length and breadth of which I could not measure, as I stared at the seed in my palm. Eventually, Growth stood and began to walk deeper into the grove. After a few moments of walking, she turned back toward me, asking, “What are you still gazing at? / Why does your sight still prop itself down there?” (29.4-29.5).  I quickly stood up and ran to catch up with her. Eventually, we emerged from the trees into an expanse of vibrant multi-colored lilies.  Growth knelt on the ground and gestured for me to join her. Bowing her head toward the flowers, she began to sing, 

“These lilies, 

Whose entire being,

Can be swallowed by a small hand, 

Possesses unparalleled beauty,

For the very trees,

Which tower over the rest of Creation, 

Still bow to the simple beauty of these flowers:

The only stars that man can touch….”

Growth rose slowly and said, “Some plants may grow large, like the apple tree, and others may grow little, like the lily. Though the lily is more challenging to see than the apple tree, its petals have grown in beautiful patterns that the tree could never imitate. True growth is not determined by size.”

We continued walking along the garden’s path, passing groves of fruit trees, patches of sprawling vines, and fields of crops. Before long, we reached the end of the garden, where a dry, nearly barren patch of ground lay. Many large, thorny weeds and a few broken, browning seedlings were interspersed throughout the patch.

Pushing aside a few serpentine weeds with one of her gloved hands, she reached deep into the patch and brought out a tiny seedling whose roots still clung to a handful of soil. Holding the baby plant up to my face, she sang,

“Seedlings cannot grow among weeds, 

Darkness withers in the light,

‘The highest good cannot do evil’ (Boethius 114)

Hatred overgrows love, 

Virtue swallows vice, 

Even death cannot take someone, 

Whom life still claims, 

This is Earth’s truest rule:

One side cannot gain

Unless the other loses.

These seedlings cannot grow because they are surrounded by weeds that steal their nutrients and water. To succeed, you must first eliminate the weeds surrounding you! Either they must lose, or you must lose. You cannot compromise because ‘You can never pay Paul without robbing Peter” (More 45). Having finished speaking, she held a hand out to me. I took it, and we walked together through the garden’s exit gate, emerging into my backyard. 

I started a garden there. My seeds were tiny, and I spent much time uprooting the weeds that surrounded me. Though they grew slowly, with Growth working by my side, each plant grew beautifully. 

Years later, having worked hard for many long hours under the sun, I completed my garden. There I rested, Consoled.