January 25, 2007
The Orchid
Three years ago, on the way back from a Pastor's conference, I stopped at a flower farm to pick up a gift for Vania. I was going to pick up roses. However, when I walked in I saw a beautiful orchid with three beautiful flowers on it. I thought it was pretty cool, so I bought it.
The lady proceeded to tell me how delicate the orchid is and how much it would take to care for it. I think I nearly gave her an annurysm when I told her it just needed to last enough time to get home and for my wife to see it. I think she really had second thoughts on selling it. Vun and I don't have a green thumb, or a green anything. So, I fully expected this thing to die within the week.
Well time went by and eventually, at their right time, those flowers did die. But not because our bad care, that's just what happens. But as you see in the picture above. Our orchid has bloomed once more. I'd love to say it's because of our wonderful prowess in caring for orchids. But then you'd know I'd be lying.
The truth is, if we've watered this thing twice a month in the last three year, that's being generous. But to my surprise, I woke up one morning and said, "look, it bloomed."
I don't know what the lesson to be learned here is. I just think it's really cool!
Posted by edMaybe the lesson here is that even when you don't know it, you're nuturing someone or something in the smallest of things.....
Or that when you have patience, good things happen....
Or that even the smallest action has a effect on someone/something....
Or that you & Vun have great hearts, but then everyone who knows you know that already.....
Or it could be a lesson or learning tool of God's creation & beauty.....
Or that you & Vun DO have green thumbs after all!
LOL
Posted by: annaMaybe God knows that we have a hard enough time trying to look after ourselves and he made the plants self-sufficent enough to glorify God all by themselves. Another miracle in nature.
greg
Posted by: gregMaybe God just knew how much Vun would love it and thinks enough of you to keep it alive...just to show you He's still here and loves you.
Posted by: hanniI'll be honest, I wasn't expecting all the theology that's come out of this post and I thank you for your warm feelings that show that you care both about God and us.
Having said that, occasionally I like to play devil's advocate, I want to throw a wrench in the theology coming out of this whole post.
Vania and I have had at least a hundred plants in our marriage. Of all those, all but three have ended up very dry and very dead. Of the three that have survived, they too have ended up very dry and while alive they're always very near death. Also, every spring we buy lots more, you know turn a new leaf (forgive the pun). And they too end up dead. Actually, they stay alive as long as mom visits. But eventually, they too die.
I guess my question is, if the three that survived points to God's love, care, etc, what do the 97 or so that died teach us about God?
He only cares about some, not most?
He only helps those who help themselves? Survival of the fittest?
Forgive me, sometimes it's hard to shut up the pastor in me.
I am thankful for you all and how your posts reflect your love for God and for us.
^ it show God's plan for all living things....some were meant to live & others not..... it doesn't mean that He loves one more than the other... that would be like you saying you loved one child more than the others when i know you love them all......for us to know why God let some die & some live, we would have to be in his mind...... OY! That's enough thinking for me! LOL
Posted by: anna