04.16.2023 | Second Sunday of Easter

The Hollyhock is looking pretty good this Spring here in the Carondelet Garden in South Saint Louis.  Last year we had a terrible case of rust with our two Hollyhocks.  We followed the instructions and cut them down to the ground.  Burned the remains to try to stop any more problems from spreading.  We lost one but this one is coming back quite nicely.  I'm keeping a close watch just to be sure.  They are a bit fussy, but the blooms are stunning.  

As I was sitting with the readings from the Gospel of John this morning I was struck, as I often am, with "doubting Thomas."  The poor disciple gets a bit of a bad rap as far as I am concerned.  I would have been Thomas.  I am, still, oftentimes, Thomas.  "Lord, I believe.  Help my disbelief."  I think we are all Thomas at one point or another and that's okay.  We are allowed to question.  We are allowed to think and ponder.  Religion tries to tell us what to believe.  God gives us what we need to believe.  A gigantic difference.  

The storms have cleared.  The weather has cooled.  The day is cloudy and gray.  It's the perfect time to ponder and question.  A perfect opportunity to embrace a little faith in thing unseen.  Have a little bit of hope that tomorrow will be a bit better than yesterday.  Embrace love.  Share love.  Doubt sometimes creeps in.  Sometimes my faith is week.  Yet, somehow, love breaks through.  Have a wonderful week my Gardening friends.