Waiting for the bloom

...."Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."  Philippians 1:6

I recently joined the local iris society.  On Mother's Day I went to an Iris show.  Beautiful stalks of Irises, varied in colors and hues stood tall in vases, proud of their glory.  I looked at them and the ribbons which they earned. I was impressed by their beauty that I wanted to learn more about this species of flower that blooms all over the world.  I saw a registration form and said, "Sign me up!" I have enjoyed making a new group of friends, those who love working in their gardens just like me.  We are of kindred spirit, with dirt under our nails.  I am starting to learn about the wonderful world of irises which is large in scope. I love being a student of God's creation.

Some folks I know have said,, "Oh those irises...they only bloom a short time and then they are ugly and dead. Why bother?" I can certainly understand this notion but seeing it as a gardener I see a deeper principle from the Creator.

The brevity of beauty is what we lack in the 21st century.  We live trying to save everything in photos.  I went to a wedding where everyone videotaped the bride coming down the aisle --- no one just "watched" the moment of a bride in her glory walk to her beloved. We see so much through our phone lens rather than our eye lens.  We are so anxious to save events that we don't stop and just enjoy the brevity of the beauty. 

Irises remind us of that.  All summer, fall and winter the rhizomes patiently feed upon sun, soil and rain.  Short tendrils of roots dig deep into the earth.  Then, when Spring taps them on the back, come the most beautiful and intricate works of art.  Bursts of color, combinations and little fuzzy beards peep out as a feast for the eyes. A few weeks later, they will hunch down, curl up, and sleep. 

I find value in enjoying the pleasures of the seasons, watching things come and things go.  Death, life, emerging, hibernating......it was all factored into nature by Elohim Creator. He found pleasure in the nature of things beginning and ending. When we do the same, a strong sense of season-patience comes with it. We desire to enjoy the beauty of today because it will not last forever.  We learn to cherish and savor rather than do a Facebook post. I am learning this at the feet of the irises.  I have 30 varieties now in my garden. I look forward to spring --- to see my symphony of colors sing for the first time in my garden.

Paul wrote this wonderful verse of hope in Philippians 1 while in prison.  The theme of the book is joy --- the word is used more per chapter than any other Bible book. Paul understood that he was in a season of chains, but he saw the road ahead and the glory that Christ promised to him. Paul used the words "will carry it on to completion".  In the greek this means "to accomplish, perfect, to appoint to."  What words of hope these are!

God does the same garden-work in us.  The minute we are saved and re-born we are not finished. God works in us slowly, just like the iris.  Our blooming moment has not occurred --- but it will, when Christ comes and we see Him face to face.  Our buds will open up in colors of praise, uplifted, stalks of righteousness planted in the earth of suffering and grace. Oh what a blooming day that will be!

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