Cut Flowers

Pandemic pressure - from shifts in work expectations to transformations in interpersonal relationships - necessitated new practices in my life. Staying grounded looks like pausing during my dog walks to open my chest and look up at the sky. Maintaining connections requires virtual check-ins when soul urges crave sisterhood. And my immersion in nature, for rest, means gazing at the cut flowers I bought from Trader Joe's. 

They require plant food, water, and morning hellos. The gentle pruning ensures nutrients are received while the family sleeps. Despite all this, they die. Slowly, the vibrant colors fade. Before turning dry and brown, the petals shrink. 

I myself shrink in times of stress. I ride out adversity by falling back, determined to grow invisible to life's challenges. But then I remember that He is my living water, forcing me to show up when tempted to retreat. I have permission to encounter challenges with frequencies of God's promises to stick with me and be my source.