Arrangements

Although I would never turn my nose up at any bouquet, my favorite is when they are all the same flower.  I don't buy them very often since they don't last as long as some other flowers; but I particularly love when a dozen Gerber Daisies are arranged in a tall clear vase.   The graceful, bright green stems working hard to hold up the cheerful blossoms.  The petals radiating out like sunbeams from the center.  I don't mind if the blossoms are different colors but keeping the flowers the same variety has impact.  The personality of the flower shines through.  Arrangements with a variety of flowers can be very beautiful but the essence of the individuals is harder to perceive with the distractions of the others.

A half a dozen middle-schoolers, my middle son included, participated in a Coming of Age program that culminated with a Unitarian Universalist church service this weekend.  At the service the six young people were to read a credo statement that they had prepared to share with the congregation about what their personal belief system looks like.  In a world that normally tells youth what to believe, this small group had the challenge and privilege of declaring their very own ideas of life, the afterlife, music, dance, God, equality and family.  All six of them had uniqueness but taken together they created a united feeling of spirituality, strength and optimism.  Their limbs perhaps a little shaky under the weight of this task, they all rose to the occasion and inspired everyone who was paying attention.   Like an arrangement of Gerber daisies.

A quote from my son's credo statement:

"If you don’t enjoy what you’re doing then you’re doing something wrong. You should enjoy life and maybe not stay on the path the whole time, because sometimes you need to find your own way."