Top of a Tulip

I suspect that when most people look at a flower in bloom, they see pretty colors and not much else. And there is nothing wrong with that. Flowers are beautiful to look at, it’s true. That is why we plant them. And that is why we look at them. And that is why we feel a little empty when the flower fades. But there is so much more to a simple flower.

Now, you might be expecting me to launch into a discussion of the value of pollinators and the process of bees using the pollen in our environment. And yes, I could do all of that. But not right now.
Flowers can lead me into deep reflection on many levels. I have always been one to focus on what a landscape looks like from a distance. My tendency is to ask, ‘how does it look from the deck?’ I like to see the bigger picture and to see how the colors and textures interact with each other. I like to blend flowers that bloom throughout the season into the same bed so that there is a continual flow of change from spring until fall. Because my life is a continual flow of change from season to season of life.

And, my fear is that, if I look too closely at any one plant, I will invariably see flaws. That’s because it is nearly impossible to have a “perfect” plant. They don’t exist. However minute, if one examines any plant, an imperfection can and will be found. So, please don’t look too closely at me. My flaws are far too obvious.

But then I am reminded of a verse in the Gospel of Luke. "Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you?” Lk 12:27-28
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Well then... Maybe all my imperfections aren’t so bad after all. So, you know what? Go ahead – get up close and look carefully. I’m good.