By: Joseph 1. Mazzella
It is summer here in the mountains of my home. A season also known by another name: road construction time. There is paving, ditching, and tree trimming going on everywhere. This year there are also new water lines being installed in a nearby town so I find myself leaving home a half hour early because of all the delays. Today as I was stopped at one of the construction sites I took my eyes off the long line of cars in front of me and glanced to the side of the road. There I saw something that brought a smile to my heart and a “Wow!” to my lips. Stretched along the side of the road as far as the eye could see were wonderful wild flowers.
It was such a beautiful sight. I saw Queen Anne’s lace growing regally by the road. Along with her were yellow dandelions and buttercups glowing bright in the sunlight. Sweet clover and white daisies were blooming as well. In spite of having to grow in gravel and dine daily on exhaust fumes all of these flowers were flourishing. With just a few drops of water and a daily dose of God’s sunshine they all were growing tall, healthy, and strong. Watching them nurtured my spirit and made the time spent stopped there a joy.
As I was driving home I realized something too. Each of us is a wild flower in a way. Life gives none of us perfect soil. Instead we find ourselves struggling to grow in the gravels of problems and pains. In addition we often feel choked in the smoking exhaust of this world’s selfishness. With these challenges each of us could easily feel like wilting into the dust. Yet, every day God blesses us with the water of His love and the sunlight of His grace. Every day we are given a fresh chance to bloom where we are planted and to share our beauty with others. Every day we are given a choice to “WOW” the world with our wonder rather than wilting. Grow strong in the smoke then. Flourish in the gravel. Give your love to everyone along life’s road.
