The Surprise Joy of Twisted, Fuzzy Flowers

Post date: Sep 20, 2019 6:42:23 PM

Greetings of peace to you!

With the imminent arrival of fall, I decided it was time to purchase season appropriate potted plants for the porch. I usually get the standard mums, but this year I wanted something more interesting and vibrant. So, I picked up some curvaceous celosia at a local store because I just love their twisted, fuzzy flowers, reminding me of a colorful caterpillar. The other day I went out to water the plants and to my surprised delight there were monarch butterflies feasting on the celosia. And not one or two, but lots of butterflies, more than I had ever seen in the garden. 

I sat down on the stoop and watched them for a while, swooping here and there, landing on one flower, moving on to other plants, and then rising again in the air in a winged dance with each other. After a bit, it occurred to me that the mums had never attracted these beautiful creatures, and I was so glad I had chosen to get different flowers this year. Had I gone with my usual mums, I would not have been given this small moment of nature’s joy.  

Sometimes it’s a little change in our routine and decisions, or choosing a different path from the well-worn one we travel on that moves us to see our world in a different manner. These decisions we make can be minor, like buying different flowers. Or our thought process may be more difficult, knowing that even though a decision is not easily made, it will be one that will challenge and encourage us toward new growth. Whatever the case, what the celosia and butterflies assured me of is that the Holy Spirit is forever poking and prodding in order to get us to explore new ways of thinking and becoming. And when we follow the Spirit, we are certain to get a more intimate glimpse of holy joy all around us. 

Come this Sunday at 10:30 AM to find out to what joy the Holy Spirit is leading you. Tim Anderson will be the featured artist in worship and will stir our souls with the Prelude, “If With All Your Hearts” and the Offertory, “Let Justice Flow.” Dan Pannebaker will be our Worship Leader. The Joyful Noise Adult Choir is back (hooray!) and will bless us with the anthem, "Somebody's Knockin' At My Door.” I will be preaching from Luke 16. 1-15 and my sermon title is Shrewd Saints?

I look forward to welcoming you to God’s house of joy on Sunday!

In gratitude for the joy of being your Pastor and the holy call of loving you,

Pastor Trish