Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Flowers on the Freeway



Everyone has their herald of Spring. For some it's seeing that first robin, for others it is that first day you can go outside without a jacket. For me it's my flowers on the freeway.

Have you ever noticed them? Bright yellow daffodils growing haphazardly in the median, through the thick dead grass and in between the enormous fir trees. For as long as I can remember they have been growing there but I always wondered why. There is no rhyme or reason, they seem to come up wherever they please. Then one night while we were at a family dinner the subject came up. (I'm sure I was the one who brought it up by the way...) My mom said, "Oh I know why they are there. They were planted for BC's Centennial Celebration."

Are you kidding? Wasn't that like in 1967?

For just over 40 years those daffodils have been coming back year after year. Surviving winter after winter, droughts, weeds and massive mowers. No one has baby-ed them and pampered them. There has been no weeding or watering. As far as I'm concerned they are as beautiful as any flower in Minter Gardens.


There has to be a lesson in there somewhere don't you think? Yes, that's it...

“Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you."

I knew I loved them for a reason, I just didn't know why until now.


(Just in case you were wondering... Yes, I found a way into the middle of the freeway to take these shots. Shhhh...don't tell Tony, OK?)

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Psalm 23 and other verses I should know...



Have you watched this video on youtube? I have lost count on how many times I have watched her, this adorable little girl named Abby who quotes the 23rd Psalm complete with giggles, drool and saying "surely?" about 5 times (my husband's favourite part is "now my head?" It is heart-warming to watch.

Then, after I had watched it for about the 10th time, something started to happen to me. I felt this tremendous amount of guilt. I realized that my total sum of memorized Bible verses added up to John 3:16 and Jeremiah 29:11. Not too great. I knew I needed to change that and quick. It wasn't long after that that Wes (our pastor) suggested that we memorize scripture as a Lent challenge. To the best of my knowledge he's never done that before.

OK Lord, I can take a hint.

So 30 days later I am happy to say that Psalm 23, Matthew 5:1-16 and Isaiah 40:28-31 are permanently (I hope) etched in my memory and I even though Lent will be over in 10 days I am determined to memorize more. "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path."

Thank you God and thanks Abby.