I am far from having a green thumb, though I try my best. The plants in my house are all green and look to be doing well, and that’s good enough for me. So, I’m extra happy when a bloom shows up once in a while. The one you see in this photo took a long time to appear. The bud was noticeable well before Christmas, but it took more than a month after that to open. (A second one was not far behind!) I’ve seen pictures of this type of plant with multiple flowers blooming at the same time. They’re beautiful. I read up on how to best help mine to grow more like those, but I’ll have to wait until the next cycle to see how it goes. Whether or not my plant eventually produces multiple flowers, I was satisfied with having this one. Though a small thing, it was a joyful sign of newness and growth, especially since it appeared so close to the new year. As simple as it may sound, seeing it every day made a little difference.
How to make a difference has been on my mind a lot lately. We have been hearing about many situations and events that we have no control over. We are incredibly saddened by the recent tragic accidents, and perhaps we are also concerned about how new processes and plans may affect us and our loved ones. I’ve been trying to pray through some discouragement, and I was led back to our recent reflection on the Body of Christ. My spirit was especially lifted with the encouraging words and reminders Father offered in his homily about the Body of Christ—about us. About our part, our very vital part. He reminded us that in our worries and apprehension, God is still God, and the world needs our faith right now. As I prayed with that powerful notion, I was moved to add that the world also needs to be flooded with ‘good’—with God’s goodness. So for the time being, my answer to ‘how to make a difference’ is, in our faith and in our love, contribute to the ‘good.’
As we already know (and currently see in the retail stores we visit), February is associated with love. Let us offer our love in small ways to make a difference. Let all that you do be done in love. (1 Cor 16:14) Let us find small ways to contribute to the goodness of God and help to soften the rough edges of worry and sorrow. Whether in small ways, quiet ways, or obvious ways, we can contribute to the ‘good.’ Whether in a moment, in a situation, or in a troubled heart, we can be the single bloom that makes a difference.
Journeying to Grace 