Part of what I enjoy about tulips is the opening – each flower opens in its own time, at its own pace. Influenced by light and heat, chemicals and cells cause the movement of the petals to almost dance in the daytime.
The tulips are analogous, I think, of where we are right now in society. We’ve been kind of closed up for any number of reasons; COVID, weather, our own emotional journeys, etc. But we seem to be at a shared time in our lives where the opening is starting again. And it’s beautiful.
But we are all going at our own pace: we are all experiencing each day in unique ways, as our situations and circumstances vary. Some are more comfortable opening quickly, some are more comfortable opening slowly. Whatever our pace, there is beauty to be found: like in the opening of a flower.
The anticipated beauty of the tulips also reflects where we are together: I expect the tulips to open, and to demonstrate beauty, because I have seen tulips in the past do this. However, I recognise that these tulips are not those tulips; these are new tulips. Our culture is embracing a new era, and it is exciting! But if we choose to limit our way of thinking to only seeing beauty in what used to be, in the “old times”, we may miss out on what beauty is here and now, and what beauty is on the cusp of discovery.
The tulips are lovely, and bring beauty and happiness to my table.
The world around us is also lovely; and we have the choice before us to reject that beauty because things have changed, or to let our souls be uplifted with the ways God is showing us an always-opening beauty.
This week, we’ll all be gifted with a gorgeous bouquet of possibility, and invited to rejoice in the sacredness of new opportunity.
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