Glass Terrarium

I’ve had a glass terrarium for 45 years, but never planted and hung it in the conservatory until this summer. As nasturtiums snake up round the chain, growing before our eyes, lobelia and geraniums cascade out of the openings.

We’ve noticed how quickly the soil dries out. In fact, it is often so dry when I water, that the water puddles and pools and then gushes out the openings to drip onto the geranium below. Nothing soaks down to the roots unless I slowly drip it onto the hard soil.

I’ve been thinking about joy. A tender emotion, it can quickly dry up and crust over, especially with global situations as they are just now. Chasing happiness, confusing it with joy, doesn’t reach the root of the issue. Happiness is transient and fleeting, where joy bubbles up from within.

Spending time with the Lord – maybe in nature, on holiday, or in the garden or even prayer window – is like slowly dripping water onto parched soil. It has time to percolate down and reach the roots which are dry and thirsty. The joy of the Lord is our strength.

And then the growth and flowers come.