Saint Brigids Flower

Psalm 103:8-16 8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, Jas. 5.11 slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. 9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. 10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. 11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. 12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. 13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. 14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. 15 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. 16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. Psalm 103

was believed to have been written by the great King David, in his later years, when he had a greater understanding of God’s loving kindness, forgiveness and a clear sense of the frailty of life. Some call this Psalm God’s benefit package as David writes of the blessings of God for those who love and honor God. I chose this psalm today because of the dandelion, known in folklore as a clock. It was said superstitiously that if you blew on a dandelion that had gone to seed, the number of seeds left were the years you had left to live. David talks about the flower blooming in the grass,in verse 15, here today and gone tomorrow. If we would consider these words would we live our lives any differently? Since I have come to have an intimate relationship with the Creator of the Universe, urgency exists in my soul. Each day I can choose to live with direction and purpose, or to wander aimlessly. It amazes me when people say they are always‘busy’, often too busy. Busy with what though? God didn’t create us to be busy. Theologian Thomas Merton wrote that “Below the anxiety of the world is the silence of God” . To be aware of God’s presence and hear His voice means it is important to step aside periodically from the activity of life to be quiet, listen and look. Be still and listen to the divine teacher for a moment. Not use busyness to avoid the gentle urgings God has placed on your soul. Even though some days or seasons can wear on us all, stop, breathe and acknowledge the Creator of the Universe and his amazing creation. We can learn a lot about ourselves and how our relationship with God could and should be by observing the natural world around us. The humble dandelion, introduced to America by the passengers of the Mayflower in 1620, was used as part of their regular diet and to beautify their gardens. This plant has a long tap root. Simple weeding will not get a dandelion to release it’s grip from the soil. We can take learn from this plant that it is wise to root ourselves in God’s Word. When we are so rooted and grounded we cannot be moved from knowing we are in God’s loving care when things disrupt our lives. Because of the deep root, the leaves are full of vitamins and minerals. They nourish the bodies of those who pick and eat them, so also we, filled with the knowledge of the Son of God may extend love and grace to those around us. The dandelion flower turns to bask in the light of the sun, its hue reflecting the life giving light. Our faces also display God’s likeness when we are focused solely on pleasing Him. It is called Saint Brigids flower. Saint Brigid, born a slave in Ireland, became the most famous female leader of the early Celtic church. She established monasteries and a center for art and learning. She was known for her kindness and generosity to the poor. The dandelion, her flower, was knick named the little flame of God, as was she. In the appointed time, a dandelion will let go of it’s seed, which can be carried on the wind, as the breeze wills. Apostle Peter writes,” Having purified your souls by obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly with a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God” Our God given gifts and graces are imperishable seed and may be released to catch the wind of the Spirit. Like Brigid, we all have something to share, no gift is too great or small, to be used in building the kingdom of heaven. Suzanne Collins, in the young adult fiction novel Mockingjay writes “What I need is the dandelion in the spring. The bright yellow that means rebirth instead of destruction. The promise that life can go on, no matter how bad our losses. That it can be good again.” It can be good again, new every morning. Jesus, the incarnate Word, sought silence and solitude during His life and ministry for refreshment and direction. Not to get away from people - but as a means of staying close to his Father, and to be a more effective servant . In John’s gospel Jesus says to Phillip, Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. Jesus reflects his Father, called to reflect Christ in all we say and do during our brief lives on earth we too can be the little flames of God. James Russell Lowell wrote “To The Dandelion” about a century ago. Was he really writing about the dandelion or did he have some other message in mind? You decide. “How like a prodigal doth nature seem, when thou, for all thy gold so common art! Thou teaches me to deem more sacredly of every human heart, since each reflects in joy its scanty gleam of heaven, and could some wondrous secret show, did we but pay the love we owe, and with a child’s undoubting wisdom look on all these living pages of God’s book.” The dandelion photograph used in this post is not mine. It was taken from the following webiste: http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/Plants.Folder/Dandelion.html which includes all kinds of specific information about the dandelion medicinally and as a food source, as well as some funny anecdotal stories about gathering them.