The Rose

In the death of a flower does the rose bush find its’ rebirth, it’s “new” Genesis. As the bloom of an old rose gives up its’ “ghost” and falls to the ground, it bears the fruit of such labor- its’ “Seed”. Within this seed lies the “Potential” for it to become that which it is to “BE”. Inside that tiny little seed, lies in wait its’ destiny and all the “stuff” it needs to become a beautiful rose and to fulfill its’ purpose.

There it sits, on the ground, waiting to become a rose. It knows it is a rose within its’ soul, but it’s not time, it’s season has yet to come. Therefore, it continues to wait and wait, until one day when out of “nowhere” “someone” or “something” steps on the seed and mashes it into the ground. Being stepped on, the winds now begin to blow – dust and dirt settle all about the tiny little seed. The seed, now very much alone is wrapped in “darkness”, cloaked in it, surrounded by it, but not “consumed” by it. Though engulfed in darkness, it is able to maintain its’ identity and much of its’ integrity and begins to “draw” energy and life from the darkness. Deep within itself, it starts to notice a change, an awakening, an evolving, the pull of Destiny.

Above ground nothing can be seen of this awakening, this rebirth taking place beneath the surface. On the surface of it all, nothing appears to be happening. For that matter, the tiny little rose seed is all but forgotten. But, it knows- Now is the time.

A rumble begins deep within the belly of the seed and the shell of the seed cracks to reveal a minute green shoot of “new” life. The little sprout pushes and pushes against the darkness until the darkness of the soil gives way. Now standing in the full warmth of the sun, the little sprout stretches out two tiny leaves to embrace the “light”. In return, clouds begin to take shape and an all too familiar darkness begins to fall. Soon what started out as a gentle kiss of rain, turns in to a most heavy down pour, a thunderstorm even. Washing away a good bit of the soil that nestled the seed yesterday, the sprout innately begins to dig its’ roots deeply in attempts not to be swept away by the onslaught of drenching water. But, as quickly as the rain appeared, it left- nourishing the ground in a celebration of the rose’s birth.

In due season, and within the right conditions, it is no time before the little sprout grows in to a beautiful shrub that soon bears the most magnificent roses. Many people are blessed by their beauty and made happy by their presence. But, these roses, as they grow old, fall to the ground, and they too give up their “ghosts”- all to start life anew.

A great part of our life is lived as the rose. Yes, there will come a time when we begin to feel the pull of destiny, a knowing deep within our soul of a greatness that is to be born, a juncture of our life path and infinity both shaking hands and agreeing. The pull of destiny is an invitation from the Source of all that is, to join into the beautiful dance of “living” a life of Divine Purpose.
In order to “grow” into the “who” we are to “BE”- yes, a part of us must “Die”- the part of us that we see from the past. The ego must be shed. And, yes- for a moment we must endure the pain of being stepped on and rained on too, for in them lie the “nourishment” of our becoming. We can not avoid the season of “aloneness”, the reality of being by ourselves in the darkness. This season of aloneness forces us to look within ourselves to see that which is to come forth and that which is to be shed and left behind. This can only be accomplished in a state of “aloneness”, in the darkness. But, all the while we are still growing peacefully and passively- pushing against and pass the darkness of our situation into the glorious light of our destiny.



Flowing with the Spirit


When I look out over the harbor I begin to witness the graceful embodiment of “Flowing with the Spirit”. Throughout the day from morning light to the dark of evening, the waters of the bay rise and fall with the ebb and flow of the tide. And upon that tide rest many things: flowers, wood drift, seaweed, empty soda bottles, plastic bags, beautiful swimming fish and dead ones too. Whether nature placed it there, or if man has cast it down into the water, the ebb and flow of the bay “brought” it all to the shore at my feet. The “choice” was mine to decide what I would “accept” or what I would throw away. Would I be the one to clean up the mess or would I “leave” it for someone else to deal with.

Along the path that we are all on, the spirit will continue to bring to us everything. Sometimes it shapes us, or better yet “reveals ourselves to ourselves”- all through and by the “choices” we make with what flows into our life path.

Flowing with the spirit is and forever will be about “choice”- feeling in “your soul” what is “right”, not what another soul prescribes for you- but, your soul. Your soul seeks to express what it needs to express. So allow your soul to be “free” enough to flow with the spirit and the “choices” that you and your soul make you shall be and experience “Freedom”. Through this freedom of soul and spirit you will find yourself basking in a sea of “joy” and “fulfillment”. Thank God.