The Secret of the Rose

I'm re-reading a series of books that I first read sometime in the '90s. They are set in WWII Poland where Larry will be traveling for meetings this summer. I'm disappointed it's not working out for me to go along, but there must be a reason......

My book series is titled "Secret of the Rose", and the secret is referenced often throughout the first volume. As expected, the author takes the reader through vivid accounts of fear, fight and flight of both Jews and Christians who were broken-hearted with the destruction of their beloved country. The principle character is a baron who chose and delighted in the land, farming grain crops, reveling in the forests, and especially in nurturing a "garden of life", central to which was a rose garden.

The secret of the rose is that the fragrance is found in the petals, yet the real secret is in how fragrance is released. I'm coming to realize anew that nothing good comes easy, and even the fragrance of the most beautiful gift can't be realized without feeling the thorns of each life-experience as well as the dropping of the petals. As the author explains, petals die and drop so that new life can emerge.

He also explains that the life doesn't come from the rose itself. Life comes from the dirt, the ugly, unwanted, tromped and unappreciated dirt. No plant grows or survives apart from what the dirt gives in nutrition and as a transport of food and water. Our lives likewise cease to flourish if we pull away from what we often think is just the ugly, unappreciated monotony, yet that is what really keeps us going, physically and spiritually.

I want to be thankful for the sustenance I receive, the physical, spiritual and psychological sustenance. Larry gives me a lot of that, and we've had a great week of quiet in a getaway cabin overlooking a river in Northern WA. It's uplifting to see him sleeping peacefully -- past 5 am! It's also fulfilling to see him enjoy pleasure reading -- though how he can sit still hour after hour amazes me! It's blessing to be able to just blurt thoughts and feelings and have him listen. Uh, yeh, he's a good listener when all the events of work and church aren't filling his mind. But I'm grateful.

My spiritual sustance comes from God. I'm also grateful that God not only listens to my heart, I know he KNOWS my heart and is waiting for me to look up and ask for direction. As a parent (or grandparent) sometimes I know it's best to wait for kids to ask for help. God never forces himself on me. Yet when I wait and listen, direction comes (yes, some times more quickly than others).

Enough ramble. I want to remember to be thankful for the process, the hard times, the dirt, even the rain as well as the sunshine. Life is never one thing or another - it is many experiences blended together.

Hope you enjoy your dirt today, even the rain. The rain is a time of rest, remember.

Blessings for beautiful roses!

I Believe in the Rose

Life has been different lately. It's never what we expect, and too often not what we hope for.

A new pastor and family have finally arrived, signaling the end of Larry's overwhelming responsibility as lay leader of our church in the absence of a senior pastor. Other lay leaders as well as interim staff were more than critical -- they each affected our lifes through experiences only God knew would happen. My "endless desert" now looks like a contained learning opportunity, but I often doubted I could last emotionally. Emotions fatigue me, and at the same time they build, stretch, and lift me up. I've had soooooooooooo many experiences I've wanted to run away from these past three years, and slowly I've learned -- once again! -- that it's not about me (DUH!!!).

Some of the "desert roses" God has put in my lives have been temporary, like amazing answers to prayer. Others are new friendships that will last. It's been so FORTIFYING to see those in the next generation who are letting faith in God take them places where they are appalled to go, apart from a faith that God is providing, and goes ahead of them. Watching young adults praise and lead others in praise while they live without the livelihoods they've started out on! Watching young families trust that God will carry them -- and our parent-prayers support them -- till the storms settle! Watching new leaders step eagerly into roles they had previously declined. Watching my own kids thrive, and believe, and survive their own upheavals. Yes, life is about timing, but often not our own timing. God gives us the "roses" we need when we need them, sometimes in money, sometimes in guts, sometimes in courage.

Yesterday I had an experience I've been previously unprepared to tackle. I accepted a sub call, but was told upon my arrival at the school that I was needed in a different slot. The class where I'd be placed was one of kids I'd not yet been able to control when I'd had them in a half-hour PE class on other days when I'd subbed. No question, as first graders they are a handful, and their regular teacher commented once that part of the control is being used to it.

So I smiled, "sure, no problem" and headed for this class. "Lord, I need more than a little extra today....." I prayed as I walked down the hall. I straightened my back, read, reviewed the notes, and did my best to be ready when they came in. We started off with smiles and hugs and "where's our teacher?", but the morning moved along steadily. I started to send them to recess an hour early, but of course a half-dozen of them corrected me -- quick, back to the notes! The day was actually quite successful -- despite a dozen students needing to "pull cards" (the current discipline method in many schools, cards being the method of counting misdemeanors), and by days end I realized I'd actually enjoyed it -- them! -- and my fears were not only gone, they were no longer founded. My strength came from within -- from actually beyond me -- but my Strength showed me how to better utilize my own resources and better utilize the resources of the students.

It's scary to wonder what tests of growth God might have for me in the coming years. Good to know the good times hide what's beyond the next ridge. But also good to know that all the "oases" and "desert roses" God has provided in the past are just promises of more flowers and springs that are still ahead.

And by the way, after walking through "communication issues" Larry and I have been bridging these last few days about our backyard :o), we are working on a beautiful garden to enjoy in the years ahead. Everything from communication to bushes require maintenance, and some of our bushes needed DRASTIC work. Ha! Ha! Lots of work makes for sore muscles but a clean fresh feeling and fragrant results.

I believe in the roses of life. And I've also just recently learned that roses aren't as fragile as were once thought.

Let's keep trudging together. I hope we can share roses, and cross paths often, and continually point one another -- in the times of despair and fear -- to the Source of our Strength!

Blessings for a rose-filled day!