The Garden of Humanity

17.  Blessed is he who can love all men equally.

St. Maximus the Confessor Four Hundred Centuries on Love: #17

I must admit one of my former hobbies that I hope to resurrect as Lennox and Brooklyn age is gardening. I grew up watching my grandfather plant the most beautiful vegetable garden. As I learned from my grandfather I also learned from my father who loves to plant vegetables. Being in the garden opened my eyes to the sheer vibrancy of nature and creation. No one cucumber, pea, pepper, tomato, or squash plant looked the same or behaved the same. They were each unique gifts and nurturing them was a beautiful way to spend a season.

Now, picture, if you will, a vast and expansive garden—the Garden of Humanity. In this garden, there are myriad flowers, each unique in its own splendor. Some are roses with vibrant red petals, others are delicate lilies, while still others are daisies standing tall with their sunny faces to the sky. Each flower holds a beauty that's intrinsic, and none can claim to be superior or inferior to another.

In our world, much like in this imagined garden, we encounter a diversity that's staggering. From different cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives, every person brings their own shade and hue to the tapestry of life. Yet, how often do we find ourselves drawn more to certain 'flowers' while disregarding or even dismissing others?

St. Maximus the Confessor's wisdom is akin to a gentle gardener's hand, urging us to tend to each bloom with equal care and love. He beckons us to traverse this garden, bending now and then to appreciate a bloom we might have previously overlooked, and to understand the depth and story of every flower, not just those we're naturally inclined towards.

Loving all men equally is a journey of treading through this garden with eyes wide open and a heart free from bias. It's recognizing that beneath the diverse exteriors, at the root, every individual seeks the same sunlight of love, respect, and understanding. When we can see past the colors, shapes, and sizes, and appreciate the essence of every bloom, we're not just gardeners but connoisseurs of true beauty.

In our quest to cultivate this garden, challenges will arise. Weeds of prejudice and pests of misunderstanding might threaten the harmony. But with a heart committed to equal love, we become protectors and nurturers of this divine landscape. The garden then becomes a sanctuary, a testament to the power of unbiased love, and every bloom in it stands as a beacon of hope and unity in our fragmented world.