Dandelions

This morning is the beginning of a glorious spring day. It is cool, sunny and breezy. I'm sitting out here chatting with the old HP for a few minutes before I write this post asking Him, as I do most days before I write, if there is anything in particular He wants me to say.

I look at the yards in my small, suburban neighborhood, lazily inspecting the progress of the plants and flowers as they come to life again. I find this peaceful and filled with the promise of the beauty. While the plants haven't matured yet, I like watching them grow into their potential. The full result of their abilities has yet to happen, but there is pleasure just watching their destiny unfold.

Oh, oh. The sun has shifted and now the lawns look as though they are covered with a gauzy sort of over skirt, of yellow or gold, that is brushed with tiny spots of white. Dandelions. Wonderful.

The guy next door has a few in his yard. The lady behind us has obviously never heard of weed killer. That good-for-nothing neighbor who lives across the street has a whole yard full. Does he have any grass? (not that kind!) I think he just lets the dandelions grow so that the seeds blow all over making weed patches of all the lawns. The lady on our other side started a big landscaping project last year and didn't finish it before it got too cold. Some of the stuff she was using was left outside all winter! The jerk down the street still has his snow shovel propped against the side of his driveway. It is May, for crying out loud! Let's get on the ball people!!

In ETA, a recovery program for people suffering from alcohol and drug addiction, we sometimes read from the book, "Alcoholics Anonymous". In it is a sentence that says, "So our troubles, we think, are basically of our own making." My first reaction to this statement was, (with my hand to my heart and with eyes very wide) "Why, whatever do you mean? Surely this can't be correct!" I mentally shut my ears, forever and ever, to the person who told me this. Dummy, she doesn't even know me. I could see where this was true for her, though, and I wanted to enlighten her right that minute. By the grace of the old HP, I did not.

I did, eventually, come to understand what that sentence was saying. If I go about looking for negativity, then negativity is what I will find. The same is true of positivity. As a skilled alcoholic, I can take something wonderful and find ugliness in it. Not only can I take a defect of my character and turn it into an asset, I'm also quite capable of taking an asset and turning it into a defect. See example above.

Luckily, the old HP shines on it all. I can see the Sunlight of the Spirit shinning on everything. Even though I'm currently sitting in the shade, I can see the Sunlight and feel the warming effects spread over my piece of the Earth. The old HP shines on the dandelions as strongly as He shines on the flowers and foliage.

God, You love me no matter what I choose to be today; flower or weed. Help me to see the goodness in others instead of the flaws. Help me to make my lawn (soul) smooth and green for You. As for the dandelions? Well, they do tend to break up the monotony...

Have a good and sober day.