Flowers. Fox Gloves stand by the side of the road, blooming in beauty and dignified splendor. Daisies with their ox-eyes stand and bow in meadows and along the side of the road, waving as we pass by in the morning. Life is so beautiful, all around us and within us.

We are each an important part of the fabric of life, just as the flowers and the birds around us. God has created and is continually creating an awesome world, and incredible universe we live in. And we can consciously decided to participate in co-creating and evolving in this world, in this life, or not.

This morning I was with children in fourth grade of a public school, for my last day of volunteering with them. They are beautiful flowers, just growing and unfolding their blossoms, the beauty and their gifts. They will go on and grow on and hopefully have wonderful lives.

Today I took my flute and a basket full of instruments: recorders, penny whistle, various other flutes, tambourines, drums and a hacky sack. We had to go out on the playground so we would not make too much noise (having fun) and we began to play. After while a boy holding the hand of a man came down from the swings. We began a parade behind a pied piper and ended up surrounding the boy with the man. The boy, named Gabriel, was autistic, and I asked what song he liked. The man told me he liked "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star." So, a-one and a-two and a-three and we began playing "Twinkle"... As the song developed I watched Gabriel and saw that he was singing with us. This flower began to shine with a song.

We are all like flowers and like the children, sometimes it takes something to bring it out. For some it is a song, or just plain music; for some it is words; for some images; others places like the wide open spaces or mountains or the sea. Whatever it is, whatever it takes, now is the time to let your flowers grow and bloom. Now is the time to let the beauty inside you have full expression.

Hafiz told us:

"This place where you are right now
God circled on a map for you.
Wherever your eyes and arms and heart can move
Against the earth and sky,
The Beloved has bowed there -
Our beloved has bowed there knowing
You were coming.
I could tell you a priceless secret about
Your real worth, dear pilgrim,
But any unkindness to yourself,
Any confusion about others,
Will keep one
From accepting the grace, the love,
The sublime freedom
Divine knowledge always offers to you."

It is Great to be Alive!

~Rev. John Wingfield is a Unity minister.  Ordained in 1977, he now serves as a "transitional" minister - healing and recreating community in various Unity churches around the country that are in change. He is currently serving Unity in Kent, WA.  He and his wife Jane have raised 3 children, and make their home in Olympia, Washington.