Yesterday, I sneaked out for a 5 min walk, when mom-in-law was keeping Xuanie distracted at the backyard. It turned out to be some 20 min before I got back, because I saw blueberries spring up on the rocks outside some of the neighbors’ homes. And, blueberry picking is probably one BIG reason for me to spend summer in Sweden.
Today, I went to the forests to pick my first bag of blueberries. On my way there, I saw a little plot bursting with wild strawberries, right outside a neighbor’s house. And, this morning, I picked some early raspberries and it’s a sign for me that they are on their way!! To the Swedes, I am probably someone who’s losing contact with the mothership, a.k.a. losing my mind. To someone like me, it’s crazy not to pick the berries lying outside one’s house. To them, it’s just not a la mode anymore; it’s something for the great-grandparents, anyone past 80 years of age.
Whenever I see these berries, my thought is, they are bursting in full bloom, shouting out “please pick me!” I feel like I’m some rich man going to an orphanage looking to adopt a child, and all the kids come up to me trying to impress me, to take them home with me. For me, picking these berries is my way of telling nature I appreciate her gifts. So, every berry is important to me. I don’t allow myself to trample on any fruit, and I do my best to pick as many as I can, because they wither away pretty fast.
It’s always soothing to my soul when I’m in the forests. These berries can be inspirational. Last year, B. and I discovered a small valley hidden, by the edge of a cliff, and it was bursting with blueberries. Even B. who does not care much about them said that it’s such a delight to see them, and we called it “blueberry paradise.” The ones that are off the beaten tracks are the best ones (not surprising). These berries bloom year after year, not knowing if anyone will ever appreciate them, or even realize their existence. I thought there’s a lesson for me as a Christian. A lot of being a child of God is to do what we have to do, to glorify His name, and keep our spirits pure, regardless of whether we are being seen and appreciated. I realize it’s not easy, because it means guarding our thoughts, our hearts, every bit of ourselves, 24/7.
