Isaiah's Flower

Yes, I am aware that I'm posting pictures of small flowers for the past few days in a row.  Partly this is because, like most people, I'm eager for all that Spring has to offer.  

This tiny bloom, however, has an additional appeal for me.  It's pushed its way up through the mess left by our construction project late last fall, to defiantly be beautiful and vibrant and small, all at the same time.  It doesn't care that there's not a fully developed, carefully orchestrated landscape to welcome it.  No self-consciousness or sense of inadequacy makes it stay hiding in the dirt.  Doesn't matter that it's so small and growing randomly in the middle of nothing.  It's just doing what it was created to do; push up and out of the dark space and open its petals to the light.

Call me the crazy lady who talks to practically unseeable flowers, but I'm so impressed I stop to encourage it.  Way to go, you brave thing you!  

I think I know how it feels.  Maybe a lot of us do.  Sometimes it's like this, us doing our thing so bravely and beautifully, yet maybe looking, maybe feeling all ridiculous and random, and no one even sees it.  It's an Isaiah flower.

"But I said, 'I have laboured in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing.'  Yet what is due me is in the LORD's hand, and my reward is with my God."  Isaiah 49:4

I feel like that last part is what makes it stretch and push upwards.  'I don't care.  I'm blooming here anyways.'

And so, on this Tuesday of Holy Week, I am encouraged and prompted.

Encouraged to faithfully continue in all that's before me, doing what I've been created to do, regardless of how obvious or how obscure the results might be.  God knows.  He knows.

Prompted to make sure to let other small and randomly beautiful efforts don't go unnoticed.  To let others doing their brave thing know they are seen.  To look for the defiant goodness in unlikely places, and stop to say something, take a picture even.  

The person who hands me my drink through the drive-through window so early in the morning.

The parent staying calm while their kid melts down in the store.

The cars who actually stop at the flashing lights so I can cross.

The school custodian keeping the floors clean through a muddy spring.

The tech people and others behind the scenes of almost any gathering or meeting.

The guy who rides the back of the garbage truck and takes all the trash away.

The nurse who answers the call bell for the thousandth time.

The cashier cheerfully ringing through the groceries putting up with the old guy's corny jokes (not that I know any old guys who tell corny jokes to grocery story cashiers or anything).

The teacher who goes the extra mile with that one kid.

Thank you.  Great job.  Looking good.  Way to go!  I see you.  So does God.

Keep doing you so fabulously!!

It matters.

It does.