Surprise!

A few weeks ago, my friend planted some asparagus and rhubarb crowns. She didn’t expect them to grow much this season, and certainly not to produce anything edible – they were older stock, planted late. But, these good deals could be great perennials with some time.

What a delightful surprise, then, when the rhubarb patch sprouted. Not just because it shows that the coming years are likely to provide fruit, but apparently there were lily bulbs mixed in among the distinctive rhubarb stalks.

And so, the rhubarb patch has changed, at least for this year, as a single calla lily is gracing the bed. It’s unexpected, but pleasantly so! This simple lily is inviting us not only to appreciate the surprise of colour and beauty, but also to embrace that sometimes life doesn’t quite align with our plans.

As Lao Tzu advises: “Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them - that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.”

Change can be difficult and stressful, but if we are able to face the changes of this life with a firm foundation of faith, we can embrace the surprise and beauty that God is placing before us. Through scriptures, we are assured that God is with us whatever we are going through.

Part of that constant accompaniment is those unexpected delights, those small and subtle signs that something is different - minor changes like a lily in a rhubarb patch – that invite us to ponder and reflect on where grace is growing.

And we can be sure that those signs are always there. It’s up to us to open our hearts and minds to recognise them in our midst.

The true secret of happiness lies in taking a genuine interest in all the details of daily life. ~William Morris