Tuesday, October 23, 2018

No Excuses!


Romans 1:20
For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

Some of my favorite moments each day are spent sitting on our deck, quietly and contemplatively, simply observing and appreciating God's wondrous creation that surrounds me.  This admiration is not reserved for the big components, like the towering trees and the occasional glimpses they allow of the endless sky.  It also is stirred by the smaller beauties that call to me, tugging at my heart to notice them, and to give thanks.

I've loved all the plants which have flourished in their respective pots this summer, but the pink impatiens, I must admit, appeals to me more than any other.  For starters, I'm a sucker for the underdog, and this plant, unlike its white and burgundy cousins, is the runt of the litter.  It neither grows nor blooms as aggressively as the others, and it's the first to wilt when its roots are dry, begging for my love and attention.

And here, at season's end, all the ministrations I've lavished on this plant has paid off in a delightful and unexpected way.


Three sturdy, perfectly formed blossoms.  And miracle of miracles, they appear simultaneously, and linger not for a few days or a week, but are now entering week three of their beautiful display.

What a gift for my eyes!  And for my heart.  Because as I gaze upon them, I can't help but think of the Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, three in one and one in three.  Do you see it, too?

Just like St. Patrick is reputed to have used a three-leaf clover, a shamrock, to explain the mystery of the Trinity, so this pink impatiens has become that symbol for me.  God's invisible qualities are here seen clearly as I glean a fresh understanding from what has been lovingly made by His hands.

Yes, God's glory is revealed to us each and every day in myriad ways.  We simply have to stop and take notice, gazing with eyes filled with wonder and faith.

We have no excuse.

Amen.

26 comments:

  1. Indeed Martha. God's glory is revealed to us every day in so many ways.

    "The world is charged with the grandeur of God." (Gerard Manley Hopkins SJ).

    God bless.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Amen, Victor, it is! The earth is full of God's glory.
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  2. Yes, God's glory is all around us, waiting for us to discover and behold and enjoy. Love your "trinity" impatiens. So lovely, and yes, a real overcomer!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know you see God's glory all around you, Pamela, as is revealed by your posts. Glad you saw the Trinity in this little impatiens as I did.
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  3. Even as fall descends and the colors fade, there is still faith and life and growth even in the supposedly dry seasons ...

    Maybe that's when God does His most glorious work!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What an amazing observation, Linda! Faith, life and growth . . . yes, even in seasons where they should not be present. God's work should never cease to fill us with joy and wonder.
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  4. Stopping to take notice is the key, Martha Jane. We all need to slow down a bit and take in God's miracles all around us. Great post!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Stopping, just slowing down, is the key, absolutely, Terri. I think, too, that folks like you that are in tune with taking photos are more apt to notice those omnipresent miracles.
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  5. Sounds to me like the name is a foretaste, a prophecy of sorts. Impatiens. Oh...that's impatience. Something I try to have. :) Sometimes, as you know, that which takes the longest is the finest. Thanks for the lesson Martha.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, Bill, I love your take on this! Impatiens teaching patience? Another meaningful lesson from the Lord. So glad you enjoyed this, Bill.
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  6. Martha, we really do have no excuses when it comes to missing God's revealing of Himself to us. Your impatiens is beautiful and shows how the underdog--under the right conditions, care can thrive!

    May we all slow down and have eyes to see and a mind to understand how God continually reveals Himself and how all of creation sings praises to Him.

    Love and blessings!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Amen, Kim! Even the underdog can survive and thrive when love and care is present. And may we all slow down, breathe deeply and simply rest in God's presence.
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  7. God's gift before the changing of the season. I have often noticed my seasonal blooms are the most beautiful just before the season changes. Is this a bit like life? Beautiful post, My Friend!
    Blessings!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow, Lulu, that's quite the observation, and it does seem to be true. It is a lot like life, I agree!
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  8. Wow, Martha! What an awesome lesson from our Three in One God! That you! This shows, too, how much we need to slow down and open our eyes and ears to what God wants to teach us. Love and hugs to you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, Trudy, a fantastic lesson from our loving Triune God! His surprises and delights are everywhere when we take the time to observe them.
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  9. I love those flowers too. This year because of the increased heat over the last few summers, I tried African impatiens. They did great in the heat and are still blooming. And what a great lesson these flowers offered all of us through you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, those African impatiens sound wonderful, Galen. I'll bet they do well in direct sunlight; ours are partial shade plants because of the forest here. Glad to know yours are still blooming, too!
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  10. Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Karen! Glad you enjoyed the analogy, too.
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  11. Martha, Like you, I love to sit outside in the early morning and take in God’s creation. It never gets old! Thanks for sharing the lovely pictures. 🍁

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, Beckie, it never gets old, but is new every morning. What an amazing Father we have!
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  12. Beautiful flowers...beautiful soul! <3

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much for your kind words here, Marla!
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  13. That color is beautiful! Thanks for sharing. Brighten my evening.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So glad this brightened your evening, Jean! I know you are so excited about your upcoming trip to Ireland, and it will be the trip of a lifetime.
      Love and blessings!

      Delete

. . . Good Tidings of Great Joy . . .

  . . . Good tidings of great joy . . . ~Luke 2:10 Pictured above are my daughter, Sarah, son-in-law, John, and their three girls, Virginia,...