The Rose: Lessons for Living

The rose has always been a favourite flower of mine, and so for many people.  There’s just something about it, and each time I see, touch or smell a rose, something new comes to mind, speaks to me.

I was fortunate enough to get a rose bush for my balcony early in the year.  It blossomed beautifully, and as for all life, once it had run its course, the rose petals started drying up and ultimately were finished.  So as not to take away from the remaining life in the bush, I clipped the then barren stocks that had courageously held the blossom to its last dying breath.  Having removed all the debris that no longer served a purpose, the bush was then blessed with additional nourishment coursing through its veins, allowing the leaves to continue growing and the roots continued to spread out beneath the soil that I conscientiously remembered to keep most in order to nourish the plant.  The rose, like most of life, requires water and care.

Rose Life Lesson:  Perhaps I should be removing all those things from my life that no longer serve a purpose, that have died off and are taking life giving nourishment from the rest of my life.  Time to do a little trimming; people, places and things; that don’t nourish, add to or enhance a spirit that seeks life, light and all that Creation has to offer, to all of us.

The rose bush that I faithfully took care of is rewarding me once again and now bears a few buds that are beginning to unfold.  This photograph was taken about an hour ago, yet less that four hours ago, none of the colour that you now see was visible to the eye – but we all know it was there; waiting for the green protective wrap to gently unwrap and give the carefully folded petals of colour their first glimpse of daylight!

You’ll note the tiny fibres, hairs on the stem; some may turn into thorns or not.  But the rose bush does have thorns, and they too come and go and show up as and when needed.

Rose Life Lesson-Thorns: Life is much like the rose, thorns and all.  I don’t know about you, but I’ve certainly experienced life’s thorns throughout my life.  I can’t, however, agreeably say they’ve shown up as and when needed; certainly not from my perspective.  But, perhaps, just perhaps, someone else knew better; knew that I needed those thorns in my life just when they showed up – for my own good.  Thorns hurt; touch one on the stem of a rose and if you hold tightly enough, it will draw blood.  Thorns hurt in life and with enough pressure may also cause you to bleed; perhaps not visibily bleed, but internally, with flowing waters of pain – from the loss of a loved one who has lived his course, or a broken relationship that you felt you just had to hang onto, depsite the bleeding heart it was causing you.  Letting go of the thorn, it might still hurt, but allowing life to flow naturally, to take its course, is a little less painful, than grasping onto it for dear life – and chocking the life right out of you.

I hope you enjoy my rose; I shall enjoying its brief but magnificent unfolding and few days in full blossom…before it has served its purpose; made me smile and feel wonderful.  Then it shall disappear like the family before it…and if I am blessed again, another may come along before the freezing winter sets it.

Does the rose think about these things; like, “I wonder if the sun will shine, will it rain, will someone remember to water me; what if it’s too cold, will I die?”  Perhaps, and let’s say it does.  Take a good look at it.  Do you ever see it “react” to these “possible” events…that may or may not happen – i.e. close up its petals, scrunch up and hide; attempt to sway in another direction to avoid the forces of nature?  I haven’t.  When I see a rose, I simply see a rose being a rose.

May I learn from the rose – may I simply allow me to be me.