On the first day of May, Carol Varsalona offered the theme of “blossoming” to our group of Spiritual Journey Thursday writers. Carol’s husband passed away at the beginning of April. She writes in her post: “When I signed up to host the Spiritual Journey, I felt blossoming would be an appropriate theme for May since it connotes a renewal, a new beginning, and personal growth. I did not think that I would face the sudden death of my husband and go through a period of grief.” She dedicates this month’s post to his memory, along with a beautiful poem about him; you can read about her spiritual journey here.
Carol is one of the people who aways inspires me to see and savor the beauty of nature. Whenever I read her blog, it’s like taking a rest stop in a flower-filled garden, where one can breathe the fragrance deep and be strengthened for the journey. In her present loss, she writes of May flowers coming along to remind us of renewal and resilience.
To me the blossoming flowers are a metaphor for faith itself. The beauty of the earth pointing us back to the Creator, in a world that buffets us with fear, uncertainty, sadness, brokenness, rage, and loss. The peace and healing our human hearts desperately long for will never be found on this path. “All the world’s a rage,” to put a twist on a Shakespearean line. An ever-maturing faith is able to cut a path through anxiety, blame, and fear with which the world deliberately keeps distracting and demeaning us, where some of the worst pain is inflicted by those we care about most. As the saying goes: Hurt people hurt people. Faith does not retaliate. It withstands. It endures. It continues to bloom, and its fragrance beckons others to carve a better path through the the world’s dense, thorn-filled forest, to the inner garden. It is there, in our hearts. It has always been there…if we choose to see it.
In her poem, Carol wrote of her husband collecting a bouquet for her. I am reminded that one day, our faith will be made sight. We will BE the bouquet, the Lord’s very own, gathered unto him not as cut flowers but ones that shall bloom eternally in his presence, in that promised place where there will be no more tears, no more death, or sorrow, or crying, or pain (Revelation 21:4).
When I am still, I can feel the warmth of the sun on those flowers of peace; they open up, releasing their perfume in the soft breeze that infuses my soul.
Beyond this world’s brambles
Lies a garden of faith-flowers—
Opening, ever-opening to
Sunlight—yes, the
Son’s light.
Our hearts are filled there
Mind-rambles stilled there
In the hush of His garden
Nurtured by the Gardener’s
Grace.
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“We will Be the bouquet!” Your writing always soothes my soul. The acrostic you wrote magically connects sun light to God’s light. Thanks for sharing.
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Fran, your acrostic is beautiful! I’m putting a copy in my little book of keepers. I echo your words about Carol’s writing: “Whenever I read her blog, it’s like taking a rest stop in a flower-filled garden, were one can breathe the fragrance deep and be strengthened for the journey.” Just reading your words inspired a deep breath and reminded me of the sweet fragrance of honeysuckle from this morning’s walk.Your acrosstic is a reminder that the world’s brambles and mind-rambles can be stilled and nurtured by His grace. Thank you for writing.
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Fran, your poem is beautiful and reminds us that we are all flowers blossoming in the Son’s light waiting to be gathered into a heavenly bouquet. His grace is the Miracle Gro for our souls.
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Oh, Fran, what a beautiful acrostic you have crafted here. Hearts “filled there” and “stilled there” brings such peace. And opening to “Sunlight—yes, the Son’s light.” is clever and profound.
I’m going to be reminding myself of this as I enjoy the May flowers: “The beauty of the earth pointing us back to the Creator…” Thank you for your magnificent words.
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Fran: Thank you for this line: Faith does not retaliate. It withstands. It endures. It continues to bloom… this is true of faith and love… this is the challenge. Thank you for reminding me and stating it so clearly. Also, thank you for your beautiful acrostic poem. Beautiful blossoms there!
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Hi Fran! For some reason your post announcements are coming to my email, so I went looking for you! Then I found your beautiful poem. I am so sorry for Carol’s loss. You expressed home so well. It’s funny but last night I was working on those flower poems I wrote last spring for Slice of Life, and I’m making them into a book called, BLOOM. We are often on the same wavelength. Have a lovely week, my friend.
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Fran, I am sorry that this comment comes so late.
You have provided a glorious connection to the Lord in saying that “We will BE the bouquet, the Lord’s very own, gathered unto him not as cut flowers but ones that shall bloom eternally in his presence”. I am so grateful, dear friend, that you added on to my words in such a thoughtful and elevated way-moving me closer to “Being” without tears, although they still come flooding in. You move from beautiful prose to poetry (your acrostic poem) with ease blending nature with spirituality with Our Lord.
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