The effect of pruning of rose bushes in our garden in late November is now showing signs of new life in most of the bushes.
Pruning is a hurting process botanically. It stops its linear normal growth. That stress suffered creates lateral growth around the pruned stem. The stem that was cut would bring new sprouts and buds.
As I walked in the garden and gathered these and other phots of the after effects of pruning, My thoughts meandered to a question: How does the plant life respond to a hurt it receives! I noticed that the sap from the stem covers the cut surface and remains dormant with blunting of its growing end. A few days later, one would notice early sprouting of tender leaves. From then on there is continuity of growth. Most of the pruned bushes have new buds as seen in the photos.
The tenet leaves take time to be fully green, which to me is the continuation of the stress it suffered. Most bushes would have restored its growth laterally by about three months. The stem that was cut would have given those multiple branches circumferentially. In that sense the pruning had an additional advantage of stimulating the branch to have new sprouts all around the stem that was cur. One stem when cut multiples to become several stems which would bear buds and flowers.
I have had experiences with personal hurts. Looking back I wonder if the bio-psychology of hurt can be described as: Anguish, Burden, Convalescence, Dialogue, Enabling, Freedom and Growth.
Anguish- a time of shock and grief, sometimes with a sense of loss and frozenness.
Burden- The primal response of disappointment, anger or reaction or accusation creates upheaval within having a gravitation towards an inner turmoil.
Convalescence- When the acute reaction is declining, a sense of inner composure gradually occurs making the inner ambience moving towards comfort level to process and engage the experience compassionately, critically and coherently.
Dialogue- That becomes a natural outcome of the convalescence season, when reason and intuitive sense get revived to receive it objectively and lightly. The blaming recedes; acceptance gradually sets in; what is beyond surfaces to subsume the emotions attached to it and an inner dialogue starts which gradually transforms the mind set towards forgiveness and inner wellness. Sometimes that opens the door for a conversation with the one because of whom I presumed to have been hurt. The reading of the Scripture, prayerful orientation and the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth on love, peace and hope become the nurturing and transforming resource.
Enabling- This is the fruit of inner resilience and recollection of the vocation of living relationally. The normality of living is the web relationship. The return to belong to the web of relationships gradually happens although the memory of past experience might still stay on which if received gently would enlighten the good that has come out of that experience.
Freedom- This is an occasion to loosen the conscious grip on the event and memories associated with it so that we can allow the memory of it to evaporate from our consciousness; What settles within us in our subconscious level, is what entraps us to strained relationships. The journey into freedom is a given experience, when we longer desire to hold on to what happened. It was only yet another incident with only ingredients for growth to entertain!
Growth- Life is a gift given to me to live. When that consciousness becomes the ground on which one returns to be standing, then the strength to live and relate would have a new quality and depth. It was from a fall one is getting up to continue walking. This is the paradox of the hurting experience. The fall gives more strength to continue living gracefully and mindfully. The ego self that suffered the hurt is being renewed to have more substance of the true self that I am called to become! The hurt therefore has takes one through healing, restoration and growth.
The renewed life in a pruned rose bush led me to explore the bio-psychology of my behaviour when hurt. Now I realise even an experience of a difficulty is only a pruning touch for renewed wellness !
M.C.Mathew (text and photo)
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