From Monday to Sunday, the religious sisters follow the community schedules according to the rules of the religious orders. Along with the vows of poverty and chastity, obedience to the rules of the congregation is very important in religious life.

Our founder, Blessed James Alberione, said, “Poverty is the greatest wealth. Chastity is the greatest love. Obedience is the greatest freedom.” These definitions of the three vows seem paradoxical, but they have profound spiritual meanings for religious life.

Once entering the religious congregation, sisters or brothers are disciplined to observe the rules and put them into practice. Living in the community with other sisters, I feel that following the rules and the daily schedules makes time flow fast like an arrow.

In the early years of the religious orders, there was no concept of a free Sunday. As times develop and change, however, some of the religious orders have begun to value individual rights and responsible freedom.

Anyhow, it is good to have a free Sunday. When it is given once a month, we are free to choose what we want. Nevertheless, we don’t follow the extreme sense of freedom because we know what is best and necessary for ourselves.

In my case, I enjoy hiking on a free Sunday. When I am not able to climb a mountain, I take a long walk in the nearby park. Walking along the way, I pause a moment to take some pictures of flowers. I love to walk while appreciating the beauty of nature, which brings about joyful healing moments and resilience.

One day, while strolling around the neighborhood, I came across an older man pulling weeds in his front yard. I asked him if it was OK to take some pictures of tulips blooming in his garden.

He said, “Why not? Go ahead. You can also go to the backyard to take more pictures. Feel free to enjoy.”

I replied, “Thanks. I appreciate your kindness.”

“Not at all. I am now pulling weeds in the front yard. You know, the weeds come from somewhere else. I didn’t plant them. They were blown up to here by the wind. And I have to pull them out constantly. It is a hard work.”

Surely, gardening takes a lot of time and patience. Maintaining a garden and caring for various flowers takes much care, considerable effort and diligent hands.

Weeds grow so rapidly even though we don’t want them. As he said, they just come freely by the wind and enjoy themselves to the fullest until we pull them out.

Weeds are like defects such as rash judgments and stubborn hearts. No matter how I want to be compassionate, generous and understanding, my heart is prone to be judgmental and narrow-minded. So, I have to be conscious of examining myself and discerning my intentions with the help of the Holy Spirit.

After taking some pictures of tulips, I went to the backyard and saw another paradise where various flowers were blooming. There was a tiny bridge across a little creek between the gardens. He even decorated his gardens with cute dolls and miniatures.

It is a joy to see hidden efforts to cultivate the flowers and to care for the gardens constantly. “Let everything that has breath give praise to the Lord!”(Psalm 150:6)

The author is a member of the Daughters of St. Paul. Please feel free to visit her blog "A piece of sunshine" at mtorchid88.blogspot.com.The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not reflect The Korea Times’ editorial stance.