I’ve walked during a time, when there has been life among death. Beauty for ashes comes from this place of irony. Hmmphh, irony, it is a place where our beings are melted down only to be made as strong as iron. It is a place of threshing.. a place of darkness and suffering, but also a place of joy and hope.
Sunflowers have always been my favorite flowers. They just make me happy, they’re a bit goofy when seen among all the other flowers growing so brilliantly graceful. They are so tall and stand so high above the tallest stalks of corn. Their faces seem to smile as they look up allowing the sunshine to kiss them. Their long stems, strong and thick, courageously growing taller and higher. Their yellow or fiery petals unafraid and joyously flowing in the winds gently and softly shining.
Funny, sunflowers are a reflection of what I’ve learned or am still learning more of. They bring such joy and radiate beauty , a silently inner beauty that shines in it’s strength as it grows closer to the heavens. It is as if the sunflower know a secret few do.
They seem to know to joyfully share the beauty of life bursting forth from within them. To shine and bring warmth showing other flowers or creations to freely grow and grow as tall as possible towards the heavens. Sunflowers have the secret of life. Sunflowers know, in order to bring more life, they must die themselves.
I think about that. It’s after the sunflower has reached it's maturity that it dies. The seeds fully have dried on it’s flower center and they can be taken and planted to bring forth more flowers, to have oil brought forth, or to feed the birds and help them make it through the winters and Springtime. I’ve been going through this death..the breakings, the place of death to self.. the threshing floor.
It is though dying to yourself, that the places of death are removed or they bring nutrients to make the grounds of our hearts and souls more fertile soil.
Places where life, in proper timing, could spring forth in the fullness of Life Himself! Life given to death, death giving life as the beauty of Life arises in all it’s splendor.
24 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. 25 He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.