Alone in a World of Daisies
The old, wise Gardener was planting flowers. One day, the gardener planted daisies in the field. The daisies were white, purely white, beautiful to see. Their inside was bright yellow and many bees and other animals enjoyed their sight. They stood peacefully in the field, side by side, close to each other. They had the peace of their own world. They enjoyed the sight of each other, finding beauty in their similarities and therefore they made sure that their nectar would fall closely to their sides so that the new flowers that were growing would stand beside them.
A new flower started to grow in between the daisies, just like happened anyon regular day. The daisies around would watch full of anticipation at this sight of newborn beauty. However, no white leaves appeared. Rather, a small red bud grew out of the stem. A murmuring went through the daisy field. The Gardener had made a mistake! The wrong flower was planted, so different from all the rest! At first, the daisies were mystified. How could the Gardener, in his wisdom make such a mistake? The Gardener had never mixed-up flowers like that. The Gardener was ordered and organized. What had happened here? Where did this flower come from? The daisy-counsel gathered around to discuss this scandalous appearance in the midst of their beautiful and structured field. They discussed the identity of this flower, going back and forth over the reason for its appearance. They called this new flower “Faith”, for the flower became their new mission, believing that the flower would change to be like them. Some secretly wished that the Gardener would come in the morning to take it out so that their field could be peacefully united again. The rest of the day, the daisies laughed at the red flower, talked about the flower, or tried to change it with their words. But the flower could not be changed by control. The flower could not change through pressure. Not that it did not want to change, but it could not change. The more the daisies realized this, the more mystified and angrier they became. When evening fell, the flower bowed its head and closed its leaves. “It must be afraid”, some said. “It finally knows it doesn’t belong”, others said.
The flower bowed its head and silently it whispered: “Gardener, you made a mistake. I don’t belong here, this is not my place, why did you do this to me?” A wind blew through the garden and carried the voice of the Gardener who whispered in the silence: “You are not an orphan. I planted you because the daisies must learn. One day I will pick you up and take you to myself. Now bloom, grow where I planted you. I have a mission for you, and because you called on my name, I will give you my helper. Wait until the morning comes.” During the night, the Gardener strengthened Faith by giving it a scent called “sensitivity.” It gave the flower a calming scent. The Gardener strengthened the voice of the flower to call upon the spirit of the wind to carry the nectar farther than the bees could carry, far across the fields. The Gardener blessed the flower by giving it bright colors to draw people close. He worked on the flower when its leaves were closed, while the sad flower was asleep, hiding away from the darkness, closing itself off from the hostility of the daisies, not aware of the good plans the Gardener had for its future. The good future was not a future of conformity but a future of difference from the daisies, a future of conformity to the Gardener himself. Before the night broke, the Gardener had finished the first work and left Faith with a strength that was greater than ever before.
Before the dawn came and before the first sun rays touched the field, before the daisies woke up, Faith lifted its head for it sensed the new day. There was still darkness around, but it sensed that the sun would soon start to shine. In faith, the flower opened its leaves before the dawn broke through. The flower knew that soon the sun would kiss the leaves and that soon the Gardener would come, as he had promised. In anticipation, it stretched out to catch the early morning sun. By opening like this, the flower exposed itself to the coldness of the night and the chillness of the morning. It became vulnerable, showing its inside to the coldness of the world. The courage was rewarded, for when the Sunlight came over the horizon and kissed the field, the flower directed its head so that the rays of the Sun touched right into the core of its soul. Then the wind of peace came and took the smell of the flower over the field. The first fruits of the flower were carried away.
The wind was the promised helper of the Gardener. It went through the garden and took the scented nectar that had grown in the night. The nectar and the scent of the flower was taken by the spirit and spread throughout the fields. It carried a beauty and a peace that the world of daisies could not give. While the spirit took up the nectar, the soul of the flower got cleansed by peace, strengthened by hope, and given a mission. Soon, an interconnected relationship between the flower, the wind, the sun, and the rain started to develop as Faith became dependent on all the elements for its survival. That was when the flower was strongest, namely when it was one with the elements around it. When a drowsy, cold rain would fall down, when the spirit of destruction washed the good nectar from the daisies around, the red flower would close itself and turn inwardly to the core of her creation, her creator. When it was closed up, it was growing on the inside. Every time faith would open its leaves, the wind of the spirit would come and take the nectar and spread it out, throughout the field.
After a while, the seeds that had been carried throughout the field started to grow more roses, all with the knowledge to turn to the sun and get their strength from the light. The field revived and the scent of all the roses together brought people to its beauty. Roses and daisies stood together side by side, and the world became more colorful, more scented, and more acceptable.
The lesson
Stand strong and have faith. Whereas you may feel misunderstood and out of place, faith alone can stand in a place that is not home. Faith directs its bud to the Gardener and to the sun. God told us that he has chosen us “out of this world.” Whereas the daisies may create a world around you in which you feel you do not fit, know that you are not meant to fit. Faith does not create a new world. Faith accepts uniqueness and difference. Be beauty in brokenness, light in the darkness. We must show that turning our buds towards the sun makes us beautiful. That opening up for the spirit of the wind will not expose us to our detriment, but it will make us fertile. Not being of this world is being a stranger so that you can shine. It means that your identity is not because of your white leaves nor of your beauty amongst others, but because your bud reaches for the Sun, and your fruit will be carried away by the wind, bearing fruit.
“Lord, don’t place me in a field of daisies for no reason. Don’t disconnect me from the world if you don’t let me be connected to you. Lord, set me free from the fear of the daisies. Let me turn inside to develop a sensitivity for you in me so that when the morning comes, I will confidently turn my eyes to you and face the beauty of your sunlight. I know that I will bear fruit. You planted us here for a reason. You’re the one in my life, I will learn to love you until the morning light. Hold me close and set my heart free so that love will lead me. Let me feel the power every time your Sun touches my heart. Hold me close, lay me down, lift me up, let me feel your power.”
Have the courage to be a stranger with me in a world full of daisies.