Oh, I wanted to cut a stargazer lily, I thought. When I came in from my walk, I was distracted by the weeds. In the crushed granite path through our wild backyard, the pursulane was thick. I’d been distracted by pulling it and carefully laying it on the bricks so it would dry out and not reroot, as that particularly noxious weed will do. (I know it is edible, but in my garden, it’s a weed.) In my careful attack on the weeds, I missed the beauty of the lilies.
Are you missing the beauty as you attack the weeds? You’re working hard on being less sarcastic, but you’ve missed giving yourself credit for the money you gave to the Salvation Army last week. You have a five-point plan for reducing your debt, but you don’t think about the kind tone of voice you used yesterday with your child when she was so frustrating. If you tend to shame yourself for your sin, don’t forget the beauty of the holiness that God is working in you. Sure, nobody who cares about being made in the image of Jesus is moving fast enough, but we are moving. The beauty is on its way.
Jesus, we long for your beauty made full in us.