I invite you to plant a seed of some kind or get one of those lovely bulbs that bloom indoors like an amaryllis. If you choose a seed, you might select something that grows fairly quickly like marigolds. Get a small pot with potting soil and offer a prayer over this act of planting. Then let the journey of witnessing the unfolding and ripening of the seed into shoot into plant be a way of honoring the slow ripening of your own soul. When the plant is too big for the seed pot you will want to transfer it to a larger one.

I love amaryllis bulbs because the growth and flowering happens relatively quickly and offers a stunning display of petals when they open. Whichever plant you choose, again, let this process be a prayerful one. Find the right spot for the plant so you can see it on a daily basis. Bless it in each stage of its growth. Witness what happens each day. Offer a prayer on behalf of the bud, the petals opening, the face of the flower slowly revealed. As you witness this plant each day, ask what wisdom it has for the season of life you are in.

— Christine Valters Paintner in A Different Kind of Fast