there is this little plant that has been nourished in my room the last year
a small part of a big plant that my Grandpa divides to give to those he loves

my Mom decided earlier this summer that my portion of the plant would do better outside and so she moved it to the porch -- but I wanted to take care of it, so despite her moving it, I took it back.

it survived the summer and the fall and most of this long winter, I've tended to it daily, but in the last few weeks it has struggled. not enough sun. and I've been picking and pruning the parts of it that are yellowing and dead, and slowly the plant has gotten smaller and smaller.

Mom says, parts of it may die if you leave it there, but, it wont die, its a strong plant, and then she offered again to put it up in the upstairs bathroom next to her plant like mine that is flourishing.

Max saw it struggling and asked about it as well.

So yesterday, I moved it. nearer to the sun. Next to Mom's. to a side of the house that gets longer stretches of sun. parts of it may die if I left it, but it won't die, and its a strong plant... but but but I want the best for it.

As I moved it I thought of my soul. your soul. our souls. how we often believe we know what is best, and sometimes even when we don't we want to tend our souls in our own environment, watering them, pushing them to we believe will be best, because we want the control, despite what other people say. despite if other people see the slow decline, the small parts dying

movement is needed in these times. movement is something of the spirit. Kristen moving to Iceland. Jamin cropping out the many activities that he wishes he could do so that he can do best in school. my waking up earlier to meet with God. Max and his beard. Dad going to get kerosene in this weather in case the power goes out. Mom thanking God every morning even when she feels no energy to. movement to bring life, heat, sun. there are measures we must take to bring ourselves up to speed, to press on where we began to walk, to run, to box as if not beating the air.

to have the most life, to bring the most glory and honor to God, we often must move our flesh. to follow the spirit. to step back where we were allowing laziness or apathy and to put our legs once again around something untamed and unknown

or, to put our plant where it will reach the most sun