Life Abundant – Lawrence

In her book The Pregnant Virgin, Marion Woodman tells us that we should not be afraid of change. She says that we should look at the amaryllis bulb, its development into great bell flowers after its apparent death, and have as much faith in ourselves as we do in the blossoming flower.
Yesterday, I saw green shoots poking out of the earth. I had forgotten that I had planted bulbs in the garden last fall but, when I saw the green shoots, I remembered that I had put the dried hyacinth bulbs in the cold wet earth. They were given to me as potted plants, their purple flowers spreading God’s praise through their heavy scent, like incense in a church service.
Now these bulbs are pushing up through the earth after spending a winter in the dark, cold soil. They give hope of new life; they give memories of a past kindness, and an understanding that new life comes after apparent death. Last year’s flowers died, the leaves took in nourishment from the sun to feed the bulbs. The leaves died. The bulbs dried and, to all intents and purposes, were dead. But the nourishment they had taken in was stored in their bodies ready to push up new life when the time and conditions were right.
Now, I wait and watch their progress, hoping for beauty and life out of dryness and death. The purple hyacinth bulbs will ring out their praise in sweet perfumed silence and their essence will rise up to God’s throne.
May we, too, after experiencing difficulties in life or dry creative times, push forward in new life and beauty, having faith in ourselves and giving praise and thanks to God for all his goodness.
Blessed be the living Christ who suffered, died and rose again that we might have life and live it abundantly.