Hildegaard of Bingen was a twelfth-century mystic, composer, and
author of a theology that knitted together nature and spirit, cosmos
and soul. She described the Holy Spirit as the Greening Power of
God. Just as plants are greened, so we are as well. As we grow up,
our spark of life continually shines forth. If we ignore this spark, this
greening power, we become thirsty and shriveled. And if we respond
to the spark, we flower. Our task is to flower, to come into full blossom
before our time comes to an end.