fallow ground
There are fields and gardens that once were beautiful and robust, alive and yielding a bounty of lush pride. Then, in a blink, they are idle. The ground becomes dormant. A once cultivated ground becomes latent. Empty. Useless.
It happens in fields, and it happens in souls. They become vacant.
It is called fallow ground, and it is both dead and free. It’s an intentional decision to become dormant with the hope of one day becoming more fruitful. Rest is necessary to regenerate and heal.
First, the thorns and weeds push through. It becomes overgrown, then dry and brown. It is barren. Soulless and vacant. It seems it is the end.
It lies idle for many moons as the earth orbits the sun and the tide moves in and out. Other fields grow strong. Other gardens bloom. The fallow ground stays at rest. It is unused.
After what seems like too long, but is rightly just enough time, it is cultivated—broken and turned. Rich soil is unearthed. You can smell the warm nutrients, the healing, the peace that matures with time.
And so it goes with my own soul. It has been lying fallow and now, after what seems too long, but is rightly just enough time, it is the season to unearth it.
Ruth Ayres Writes 
It had not occurred to me that I hadn’t read anything from you in a long time until I saw this piece and went back to see when you last wrote…you did lie fallow for awhile.
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I love this post. Glad you’ve had a season of rest, regeneration, and healing. Looking forward to what’s been cultivated and turned up after your fallow season. There is sure to be some richness unearthed in the coming season.
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So very, very glad you’re writing. I look forward to seeing your words grow.
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I’m so glad you’re writing again. I’m looking forward to seeing your words grow.
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Ruth, it warmed my heart to find an email with your name and to read your words.
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I love seeing the ground becoming fertile again. Would you want to commit to a spiritual journey post once a month on the first Thursday? You can sign up to host a month here. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1i5oJY44YC2X4_2TFqwp0WANMfPHFY7iLilqkCRJNfPg/edit?usp=sharing
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It is a gift any time you stack words on a page. I always think of Ralph Fletcher in these times. I loved his book “Breathing In, Breathing Out.” Like fallow soil, there are times in life when we need to breathe in to find what nourishes us and times when we are ready to breath out. The world makes room for both.
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I can’t tell you how happy this makes my heart!
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