A Flower’s Journey
“I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys.”
Song of Solomon 2:1 (NIV)
Have you ever admired a skill, talent or, ability from afar, but been hesitant to attempt the task yourself? Perhaps you dreamed of participating in a sport, playing a musical instrument, or singing in front of others. Twenty years ago, I found myself sitting in a church pew admiring the beautiful flower arrangements that adorned our altar each week.
I grew up as a middle-class steel worker's daughter. Between labor union strikes and periodic plant layoffs, Daddy worked hard and was paid well. During strikes or layoffs, however, our money was tight. My parents lived through the Great Depression and had experienced first-hand what bondage debt could bring. Daddy's folks lost their farm during the Great Depression. My parents were determined we weren't going to live beyond our means. That meant there wasn't extra money for nonessentials like flowers. Mama planted roses, daffodils, and greenery, but that was the extent of my exposure to flower arranging.
One Sunday I saw an announcement in our church bulletin that caught my attention. The church Flower Guild was accepting new members. Surprisingly, no experience was necessary and periodic floral workshops would be provided for teaching beginners new skills and floral techniques. Hesitantly, I attended an informational meeting and decided to give it a try. My fear and insecurity almost got the best of me, but my desire to try and learn the "how to" of basic floral design eventually overcame my lingering doubts. I was assigned a team leader and placed on a team with 3-4 other women, none of whom I knew.
Initially I was a nervous wreck cutting flowers, especially the more expensive ones like roses and lilies. My team leader finally said, "It's like swimming. Eventually you must get in the pool if you're ever going to learn to swim. CUT and STICK!" And with that, I cut my first rose.
Through the years, I've learned a little bit more about floral design and arranging, but those aren't the most important takeaways gained from my time with our Flower Guild. Stewardship, service, and building community are the most valuable lessons I've learned. Those "expensive" floral arrangements that I was SURE cost our church a small fortune are often composed with stems from someone's personal garden or leftover and repurposed flowers from funeral, wedding, and previous worship arrangements. Anything that can be given a fresh cut and place in our Guild coolers for future use is repurposed. Nothing is wasted. Every time I help with a flower arrangement, I am reminded of Jesus’ words to the disciples after feeding the 5000: “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” (John 6:12 NIV)
Today our church will celebrate the life of one of our most beloved and generous members. This morning, I was privileged to help prepare altar and foyer arrangements for his afternoon Celebration of Life service. Some of the flowers in both arrangements had been repurposed from a Saturday wedding and yesterday’s morning worship service.
Our stewardship didn’t stop there however. Many of those repurposed flowers were also placed in bud vases for our LOVE (Ladies Out Visiting Everywhere) ministry flower team. These talented women gather each Monday morning to arrange and deliver approximately 60-80 bud vases to members who can no longer attend church. The bud vases are given to brighten their recipient’s days and remind them that they are loved and not forgotten by God or us.
Not long ago a fellow church member chronicled a flower’s journey from garden to bud vase by writing:
“Their stems rested in clear water once more,
their blossoms opening gently to the touch of gratitude and the warmth of smiles.
Though their petals would fade and their color would soften,
their mission was complete-
to carry beauty from celebration to worship,
and from worship to compassion.
To remind each heart that love,
the love of God never ends-
it only travels onward, finding new soil in which to bloom.
And so the flower’s journey is a quiet gospel:
from joy to praise,
from praise to service,
from the altar to the hands of those who need hope.
In their short and shining life,
they had mirrored the love that sent them-
a love that never wilts,
a love that always gives,
a love that goes on blooming
forever.”
All of us have leftover pieces to gather and give. When we do, others are blessed, joy is multiplied., and God is glorified.
Gather and give!