Garden Flower: A Tribute

Time and thought are incredibly odd things to me but the way that they intertwine with in our tragically routine lives are odder still. Too often it takes a crushing blow to shake us from our monotony. However, the after effects of any such blow are not always impactful the way they should be. Sometimes the effects leave a measly scar that is forgotten only a little while later. My blow was not like that. The same blow left many dear ones reeling with shock and question, but somehow, at the same time, it brought a beautiful sense of inspiration and awe. On the day that quiet strength and grace left this life to travel to the next, a strangely inadequate quote came to mind. "I am, therefore I do." An irritating echo, for it could never sum up a life so eloquently lived. However, an echo does not easily quiet itself. One single day or rather, a life that couldn't be contained, changed my life and lives around me. Since that day has come and gone, an unquenchable thirst has been present in my life to live the way she did. To live in a way that reflects the glory of my Father's face, to love and cherish, to encourage and push forward in the face of costly sacrifice. And in this desperate attempt to quench this thirst I am reminded continuously of a flower.

Psalm 103:15-17 "As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear Him."
Matthew 6:28-30 "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?"

A true life, I believe recognizes two things. First, it realizes that it is nothing. Humble and poor by all measure, it has no other purpose that the purpose chosen for it and that purpose is a moment of true beauty. It has been created to bring glory to its Creator and not much else. But what an exquisite life. A flower cares not for anything, but stands simply and quietly. It never turns and screams that it would be better if only it could be placed here or there, or arranged this way or that. What silliness. No, a flower simply lives as it should because its temporary. It will pass away when the purpose has been fulfilled, but that time will not come a moment too soon as we see in Matthew.
Not only does a flower recognize its lowliness, but it doesn't worry either. Never has man been able to create something so simple and precious as a budding flower. Never. Yet because our great God has created this tiny bit of life for a sole purpose, it is finer than the splendor of Solomon. I believe that if we would quit the prideful sin of worrying we too, would shine in splendor for our King. If we would step out of our own fear of failure and misery we too, could grow in the lush lands that our Father has in mind for us. Our focus on Him and not on self would create blooms of life and reflections of Him.

I've met very few people who have truly lived out humility and trust in this way and in watching and admiring one in particular, I will be forever changed. One woman was able to impact so many in her simple desire for another land and in her quiet following of Christ. And because of that, she was clothed in a splendor that is indescribable, even if only for a short while. I want what she had managed to grasp and hold to. I believe that so many of us are only willing to scratch the surface of our Father's unfathomable care, when we could have our cups overflowing with it as hers was. She truly was created as a vision of beauty and an overflow of grace.