Good Soil
By Robbie Colson-Ramsey, Contributing Writer
Like most people during the pandemic, I was in a bad cycle of getting up, taking a shower, putting on clean yoga pants, going to the kitchen, and, standing in the door of the fridge, I turned to CNN; overcome with fear, sat on the sofa. I would try to change up the rotation at times and go to the pastor’s study, but the never-ending phone ringing and zoom meets overwhelmed my already overwhelmed mind.
So I thought I would retreat outside, not a place that I visited often as an adult, my patience had grown thin from fighting bugs and hoping for a breeze, not like when I was a child and sitting on the front porch was a daily past time. I sat and quietly reminiscing about life and family and how did America get into this mess.
In the corner of my eye was a plant that had been struggling for many years to grow, I think I never parted with it because it was a plant from my mother’s funeral, this was going to be my pandemic project, to restore life to this almost dead plant. The plant was pale green, the soil was dry, and the roots were suffocating, but it was still struggling to live. This plant is like many of us, just struggling to live in the old soil.
So I grab my keys, my mask and I was off to Lowes, I was searching for good soil. The sales associates ask what type of soil are you looking for, I said sir I have one desire that is for my plant to grown and be fruitful. I loaded the car and was on my way home to repot my plant in this good soil.
I quickly lifted the plant to the table, I could feel the dry dirt rub against my fingertips and I say the suffocating roots searching for air, at that moment I said this plant is like so many of us. We are dry, fighting for air, and simply need to be re-poted in good soil.
I gently pull the plant from the small old pot and shake all the old dirt away, made sure all the roots were still connected to the plant and lingering dirt was gone. I excitedly pull the new big pot out and pour some of the good soil, then I place my plant in the pot and begin to pour good soil over the roots and watered it and watched it grow.
As we launch into 2021 some of us need to be planted in GOOD SOIL.
- Remove your self from dry ( does not support your dreams ) dirt: We used 2020 has a period of rest and preparation, so now it is time to take off, leave those places or people that will not support your dreams and passion, we all know from personal experiences that tomorrow is not promise. Know that if you stay in dry dirt, you will never reach your full potation. (FYI-I am not telling you to leave your spouse)
- Examine your roots: Because we are people of faith, we should always be ground in the word, many times our faith/roots get a little unstable, that’s when it’s time to examine the placement of our roots, are they deep enough, do they need more water or they ready to grow. The roots have to be placed in soil that allows you to cultivate your skills, not just struggling to live.
3. Invest in good soil: We are often made to feel bad when we invest in ourselves, but if you don’t invest in you, who will! I invested in good soil, when I wanted to see my planter be greener and strong, you have to invest in your dreams and desire, they will just not appear, but planting has to take place.
Much like the plant that I rescued amid the pandemic and planted in the good soil, it’s go find you some GOOD SOIL and grow.
Now be just like the plant
