La Maroma's benevolently rounded peak gazes down on Malaga, and stands as the tallest mountain in all of the province. At over two thousand meters it even boasts snow in the winter on occasion. Although nowhere near the highest point in Spain, its terrain is typical for the warm southern climates and within a few steps I was struck by the inhospitality of the inhabitants.
Very few trees grow on Tejada (its other name)'s slopes, and rocks dominate the landscape mixed with greyish-green plants most of which look on the surface soft and inviting but with closer examination or a gentle touch reveal their true thorny nature. The trees that do grow must be protected when they are young from the wild mountain goats, and are so encircled by menacing wire fences.
On the day of my climb a vicious wind blew from the sea so strongly that at moments it was all I could do to stand. I arrived back at the house weary, sore and with a hand full of tiny splinters from a fall on one of the mountain's prickly dwellers.
As I reflected on my hike, I thought of the things that grew naturally in this part of the world and then I thought also on how further down the mountain, near the sea, they build big plastic greenhouses and are able to grow a multitude of plants year-round, exporting mangos and avocados among other fruits. Wonderful fruits and vegetables grow happily but not naturally--it takes a lot of care and work. What grows naturally, left alone, are all manner of weeds and plants that harm.
A few short weeks before I stood gazing over the hazy land of Malaga from the rugged slopes of La Maroma a woman was laid to rest in a niche after forty-one years of tilling the soil of the souls of one small city. She died seeing mostly natural plants still dominating the landscape, hearts unconcerned with producing fruit. It can be weary, thankless work in the blazing sun beneath La Maroma as in many a city all over the world. Yet as a sower of eternal seeds I must work on while it is still today, knowing that in His time and through His grace even the harshest ground may bloom.
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