Tenacity

My companion’s artwork ever enthralls me. He has a natural eye for composition, a tender ability to meet the subject, and great skill in bringing forth a story. When he showed me this image my response was, “Wow, what tenacity.” 

Over the next couple of days, going back and drinking in the image, I realized it wasn’t just the tenacity of the little flower but also the tenacity of the large rock. Doing what I typically do, I explored the word tenacity. I knew it meant persistent, ah but after a little spelunking, tenacity did totally fit both flower and rock.

Tenacity is the quality or facet of being able to grip something firmly. Tenacious is tending to, adhere or cling especially to another substance; not easily pulled apart; enduring especially when challenged; aggressively persistent in maintaining or adhering to or seeking something valued or desired. The etymology of the word is from the Latin tenacious, “an act of holding fast,” from tenax, “holding fast, gripping, clingy; firm, steadfast,” and from tenure, “to hold”. (Etymonline).

I can only image how both, last season’s little seed and ancient lava rock, must have felt as the natural forces of creation blew that tiny seed into rock’s crevice. Both surrendering, not white flag surrender, but a surrendering none the less. Seed settling into the safety of rock.

For months anima of seed rested within the animus of rock. Together, with the elements, they were in co creation. There was an appropriate amount of rain captured within this southwest desert. Even in the chilled desert floor of winter and early spring, Sun kissed lava rock who was then able to hold and provide the warmth little seed needed.

What tenacity it must have taken for seed to burst open, rise, and softly unfurl. And the tenacity of rock to not see this natural process as an irritant but as a gift to gently hold space.

And now, as flower seed has beautifully bloomed,  I can see how the frequency of colors complement each other. The green leaves and purple flowers highlight the deep redness within the black lava of rock. Seed, now as plant, caresses rock soothing the roughness. Together they are in nature’s perfect harmony.
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I am reminded of the old saying, “Between a rock and a hard place.” May we all be inspired by the tenacious relationship of tiny seed and ancient lava rock.