“If God doesn’t build the house, the builders only build shacks. If God doesn’t guard the city, the night watchman might as well nap.” Psalm 127.1,2
I am hopeful today. I found a friend in the middle of change and I do not think he even knows it. Dessert blossoms are rare and I am enjoying the reflection of seeing one early in the bud.
Life is difficult, painful, and often full of black and white. When bright moments come along it should not be difficult to appreciate the bright new colors but it often is. We keep ourselves so caught in the next moment, focused on the past moment, and stressed about what will happen tomorrow, that seeing new life for what it is becomes a remote possibility.
To appreciate the new flower let me tell you a bit of how it came to be. Life was consuming the flower – little refreshing water to nurture life, weeds crowding out what light would normally come his way, and stones were slowly bubbling up through the dirt to attach when least expected. His struggle to live was apparent to anyone who wandered by and took the time to watch or listen. Injustice was often the first word that came to mind, however life is unjust in someway to everyone of us. Every avenue of growth seemed blocked. Every opportunity to move up stunted. Passing storm clouds caught and captured the few glimmers of light floating nearby.
Then something changed. I do know that even I caught it at the time. In hindsight, the right signs were present.
He recognized that he could not do anything more on his own. Darkness settled in but he did not stop struggling to grow. He did accept that he had done his best and his best was not good enough!
He saw a glimpse of God and reached out to touch Him. The first signs of movement were slight, almost imperceptible, but God clearly responded to the gesture.
He let God touch Him and the journey began!
God’s blossoms are awesome.
