The three flowers above, Spider Lily, pink Orchid and red Mussaenda are the ones which do not show too much of stress during a week long rain fall. Other flowers have a droopy look ! The wind and rain do not give the suitable environment for some plants and flowers.
I read brief notes about each of these flowers and noticed one phenomenon that is common to all the three. Each of these flowers has 'something special' in them that protects them from being soaked in water in the rain. The rain drops get deflected and do not stay in their surface.
In the book of Psalms, in the Old Testament of the Bible, I found three verses which highlight a similar thought: 'How blessed is the man whose strength is in Thee, in whose heart are highways to Zion. Passing through the valley of Baca, they make it a spring The early rain also covers it with blessings.' (Psalm 84:5-7).
The 'given strength' versus 'acquired strength' !
During the ongoing war between Iran and Israel, what is in display is the acquired military strength. The obsession to prove that acquired strength that the some nations now take pride in their nuclear arsenals! The acquired strength was often attained by power, control and domination. Such a strength has a natural instinct to be exercised to harm and destroy! Ever since the recent change of presidency in the United States of America, the tone of language while engaging nations is threatening of war and annihilation. The acquired strength conveys fear and threat because it was conceived and achieved due to fear and threat! Some nations of the world are seekers of more and more military strength because of fear ! Fear begets fear!
As against is the inherent, given strength that the three plants and flowers are endowed with.
The writer of the Pslam 84 meditated on this given strength. That strength is in God, who turns the desert into a spring! I came across a family who is fighting advanced cancer in their loved one and is currently in palliative chemotherapy. I came across occasions of how this family radiates this given strength. Every contact with that family reminds me of their 'desert experience', but what they convey is hope and comfort in God who accompanies them in this journey! The strength in their weakness has a healing outcome! They have an oasis of comfort within, which disseminates peace to those who stay in touch with them. They in their vulnerability and weakness experience strength to carry on and communicate that to others in the conversation!
This given strength, the gift of intimacy with God, offers a restorative function in daily living!
As I watched the three flowers above shining forth amidst the battering of incessant rain is a testimony to this given strength. The strength within overcome the situation around.
The verse in Isaiah 40:31, ' Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary', asserts the reality of this given strength.
I feel encouraged by such a consciousness that our strength is in God !
The given strength is good enough to feel well in our daily journey!
M.C.Mathew(text and photo)
No comments:
Post a Comment