Scripture: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
Galatians 5: 22-23
Music: "Kindness" Chris Tomlin
Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SidOp4dmj6k
Message: Flowers of Compassion
Starting to see a few of my irises bloom, while other newer plants gifted by kind friends, require my patience for perhaps another year or two. I enjoy only the beautiful greenery while they summon the energy from nature to bloom. No matter how magnificent the bloom, their beauty is a reminder to savor the day.
I discovered irises, along with peonies and a few other flowers, are said to symbolize compassion. Their name is derived from the Greek goddess Iris. They imply a message and a promise of hope. Irises also symbolize wisdom, trust, and valor. How interesting that the Greek goddess Iris acted as a messenger between gods and humans.
"For the coastal-dwelling Greeks, the rainbow's arc was most often seen spanning the distance between cloud and sea, and so the goddess was believed to replenish the rain-clouds with water from the sea. Iris had no distinctive mythology of her own. In myth she appears only as an errand-running messenger and was usually described as a virgin goddess. Her name contains a double meaning, being connected with both the Greek word iris "the rainbow" and eiris "messenger."
- Theoi.com
Compassion requires action, as we can be messengers between our worlds and faith - and those in need. Irises can be our inspiration as we share our message and a promise of hope. And look toward the rainbow. How beautiful to think of this vision of light refraction and reflection as being replenished with water from the sea.
... A voice of Hope serving the community
“God is in all creatures, even in the smallest flowers.”
Martin Luther
