Not Just Content {Bloom Where Planted}

The job of a lily is to bloom. 

Every year it is called to bloom.

Whatever the weather or overwhelming trial - 

(in this case, a late winter avalanche covering it's bulb by hundreds of feet of snow 

that took all summer to melt down enough to force it's way through)

it's sole task is to bloom.

And it did.

We found this beautiful object lesson in a high meadow yesterday.

Whatever our lot,

the appointment the Lord has laid out for us,

our calling is not just be content,

but to bloom.
Our lives are not meant just to  
be,
going through the motions, 

content, but not producing.

Our lives are meant to
flourish and,
blossom.
sending our flowers up in praise,
thanksgiving and
joy,
to soak in the light of God's love
to in turn share.

***

We were working with a nameless lad on our hike.

He does great hiking so long as he's first - ahead of everybody else.

Unfortunately, yesterday, he didn't seem to have much zip.

He couldn't set a desirable pace.

He was sweating and feeling hot and lazy
as opposed to his twin who ran nearly all 8 miles.

But if anyone dared pass him he screamed bloody murder. 

His discontent was apt to destroy the peace and tranquility we sought in the quiet of nature.

His pride was getting the better of him and he chose to lose all self-control.

It took some strong measures...

in fact he was relegated to the back of the line

directly behind dad for the remainder of the trip.

He fussed,

he fumed,

he used every control tactic within reach...

until

he was also required to keep his lips shut.

And a funny thing,

eventually,
he not only learned to be content with his lot,
(though this took a long time and many miles)

he also decided to
"bloom"
where he was planted.

He actually had a smile on his face while he hiked by the end.