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Attracting the Beautiful

Rejoice in love we know and share,
in love and beauty everywhere,
rejoice in truth that makes us free
and in the good that yet shall be. (SLT #380)

New gardens at the Fellowship have been designed and planted with native plants as “butterfly gardens”...a beautiful and growing addition to our shared religious home.

I see on the internet that butterfly gardening involves planning a garden in order to attract, retain, and encourage butterfly populations. It takes some intentional thought and action to create a welcoming spot. Butterflies like to warm themselves in the sun, but they won't want to feed in an area where they are constantly fighting the wind to stay on the plants. Butterflies also need water, so it’s important to keep a moist area for them. Providing just the right welcome is crucial.

It occurs to me that we often use many of these same words when we speak of our Fellowship...our desire to attract visitors and retain members...the mandate expressed in our principles to encourage one another in our spiritual growth…the need to provide a safe community where people are nourished…

We’re familiar with metaphors that speak of sowing seeds and tending to plants, but this is slightly different. The butterfly garden metaphor is about creating a garden designed to attract that which is precious and beautiful; it’s about building a place where those who come can rest, be fed, and prepare themselves to go out and share their unique beauty with others. If we intentionally make available a welcoming space, those who have need of it will come, and the diversity of flowers that we are will be made even more beautiful.

Please thank all who helped to prepare and plant the gardens...Sue Prentiss, Bill and Ann Jex, John Higginson, Kim Thomas and the youth group...and many others who have donated plants and lent a hand. Under the design and inspiration of Erica Nol and Mark Siegel, and working with other members of Beth Israel, our butterfly gardens will soon be in bloom.

Yours in service,
Julie