The lotus has been a powerfully attractive object to me.
Everywhere I go whenever I see it I tend to pause and watch it more intently.
And where we are right now in our lives, the Lotus seems to be a ubiquitous sight.
Here is my reflection of life-based upon the lotus: life in terms of what it is and what it could be.
L – for lowliness
The lotus is quite lowly in its beginning. Wherever there are mud and watery dirt, there could grow a lotus.
And one does not find a lotus looking up. It can be found when one is looking and sometimes stooping down.
This whole idea of its origin and where to find it suggest that in life, it takes humility to accept one’s beginning.
Nobody comes from a perfect origin. Many come from a modest origin where parents tried their hardest to have a decent livelihood to provide adequately for their children.
For those fortunate enough to have plenty of resources, very often their parents do not have the skill to do effective parenting.
And so most of us, if not all of us come from such modest beginnings either materially or emotionally that we start life with muddiness and dirt as a lotus.
And embracing this is alright. After all who ever has a clean beginning? Accepting humbly our lowliness begins the journey to a more triumphant life.
The lotus doesn’t mind its lowly start, but look at how it ends its lifespan!
O- for openness.
Until the lotus starts opening up its petals to show its full colour, there will be no sense of appreciation that will come its way.
Only when it is in full openness will a passerby exclaim “Wow!” in full admiration of its charm.
The appreciative audience includes insects who will start devouring its nectar. The openness of a lotus strongly suggests a very important component of life, that is the need for vulnerability.
To be vulnerable is to be open to being wounded and to be hurt. Only when one is willing to demonstrate vulnerability will growth in self-awareness and relational intimacy occur.
Without openness, life will remain dull and emotionally detached from others.
But with full openness, like a lotus one’s life will be attractive with all its colourful majesty!
T- for timelessness
Wherever there is muddy soil there is the possibility for a lotus to grow and to bloom. In the tropics, its growth is not regulated by time.
That is why a lotus is sometimes referred to as perennial plant, one that will exist for years.
In life, one’s capacity to attract and influence others is timeless. There are those who in spite of having passed on are still powerfully influential because of their example and their documented stories.
What a privilege indeed it is to make a difference in others by the charm of our examples and the power of our encouragement!
This thought is at the core of stewardship of life through the practice of spiritual giftedness which provides potent encouragement to those who are observing us.
U- for usefulness
Do you know that everything about a lotus is nutritionally and medically beneficial? From its seeds to its flowers to its roots- the lotus is helpful to humans.
Everything about the lotus can be put to good use. No wonder it has become a national flower of many nations and the symbolic picture of many religious groups.
Life could be like that- useful in all its facets. Even the most painful of suffering can be a source of virtue. The most challenging of experiences can offer lessons of wisdom unsurpassed.
The biblical narratives are quite full of illustrations of unpleasant experiences that eventually offered redemptive possibilities not only for the individual who suffered but for others surrounding the sufferer.
S-for shortness
From the start of developing a bud until its full glorious appearing, the lifespan of a lotus bloom covers at the most three days. Such brevity of existence for a lotus; and such is life!
Figuratively speaking life is really a fleeting vapor! Now we are here, tomorrow we are gone. Many of my peers and classmates have already exited here on earth.
Those of you reading this post know of someone near and dear to you who have recently passed away.
It is romantic to think that we shall live long on earth; it is however unrealistic.
The challenge is for us to make life matter like the lotus who will exude all its glorious color, shape, and size to someone who passes by and say,”Look at me, I’m a piece of glory, can’t you see?”
When we live life in its fullness, even how short-lived it may be, there will be some who will be privileged to pass by our side and say without equivocation, “What a nice person he is. He has touched me and forever I shall carry his influence in my heart!”
Well, let’s all learn from the lotus. They come in all shapes, colours, and sizes and yet they can make a difference to those who are willing to stop and watch.
Shalom everyone!
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