A Walk With My Son

Just back from retreat, I was invited to take a walk with my son. We traveled across the street and into the field that just hours ago was populated by stalk after stalk of corn. We followed the fresh tractor paths to the far end of the field -- collecting shiny rocks, interesting corn husks, and other things treasured by little boys. Our pockets were soon full of “stuff” that required additional study once we were back home.

As we turned with the edge of the field, we came upon a stand of milkweed pods. We drew closer and I explained how these plants are the food of butterflies, especially Monarchs, and how each pod was full of hundreds of seeds that one day would explode into the world and disperse on tiny feather-like wings.

My son seemed skeptical, so I cut open a pod with the edge of my finger. Sure enough the seeds were aligned in tight rows, each attached to a glistening white plume. Soon there were seeds drifting away from us as we flung them into the air. We each collected an unopened pod to take home with us.

The seeds we scattered that day probably will never germinate and grow – we pulled them into the world far before they were ready.

It is so hard to wait for the right time.