Here is the essence* of a thoughtful email I recently received from my mother. I hope it adds some measure of hope, light and/or peace to your day.
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A new minister was walking with an older, more seasoned minister in the garden one day. Feeling a bit insecure about what God had for him to do, he was asking the older preacher for some advice.
The older preacher walked up to a rosebush and handed the young preacher a rosebud and told him to open it without tearing off any petals. The young preacher looked in disbelief at the older preacher and was trying to figure out what a rosebud could possibly have to do with his wanting to know the will of God for his life and ministry. But because of his great respect for the older preacher, he proceeded to try to unfold the rose, while keeping every petal intact.
It wasn't long before he realized how impossible this was to do, and noticing the younger preacher's inability to unfold the rosebud without tearing it, the older preacher began to recite the following poem...
"It is only a tiny rosebud,
A flower of God's design;
But I cannot unfold the petals
With these clumsy hands of mine."
"The secret of unfolding flowers
Is not known to such as I.
GOD opens flowers so easily,
But in my hands they die."
"If I cannot unfold a rosebud,
This flower of God's design,
Then how can I have the wisdom
To unfold this life of mine?"
"So I'll trust in God for leading
Each moment of my day.
I will look to God for guidance
In each step along the way."
"The path that lies before me,
Only my Lord knows.
I'll trust God to unfold the moments,
Just as He unfolds the rose."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A flower of God's design;
But I cannot unfold the petals
With these clumsy hands of mine."
"The secret of unfolding flowers
Is not known to such as I.
GOD opens flowers so easily,
But in my hands they die."
"If I cannot unfold a rosebud,
This flower of God's design,
Then how can I have the wisdom
To unfold this life of mine?"
"So I'll trust in God for leading
Each moment of my day.
I will look to God for guidance
In each step along the way."
"The path that lies before me,
Only my Lord knows.
I'll trust God to unfold the moments,
Just as He unfolds the rose."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I was just studying D&C 58: 26-29 this morning. I have read and reread, pondering these verses throughout my life and find them empowering and humbling at the same time. There is a tricky balance in life of acting in faith--including obedience to God's law--and acting as a Free Will Agent, able to make decisions in virtue of our own free will. To choose our actions, but not any inevitable consequences, is such an amazing gift which should not be wasted. At least as important is the power we have to (choose to) live in faith. When we believe in Greater Power it shows in our actions. Faith and choice are not in competition with each other, but can have an incredibly powerful, complementary reality in each of our lives. I have come to realize that it is when I am doing my best to balance these elements of life that the 'roses' unfold in the greatest beauty.
Thank you to the many people in my life that have shared this ilk of counsel with me, and let me see their great examples in quiet, simple ways.
May you find peace in your life as you strive to find the balance of your faith and actions.
With love.
*A lot of editing occurred between my email in box and this post, no offense to the original author intended, whoever you may be. I thank you for sharing your thoughts, though with the way emails travel you may never see this note to you!
