–“A Flower Still Blooms” – a poem by Mike Gates
On a wretched wintry day, gloomy weather all around. No matter the times or seasons, a flower still blooms.
Full of life, without care, no distractions from lack of sunlight. As mist drifts down the rocky mountain side, a dense fog blankets the earth, covering its sight, a flower still blooms.
Saturated by morning dew, to satisfy its thirst. In a dry parched land left forsaken, where all is withered and cursed, a flower still blooms.
With joy and happiness to maintain faith. Thriving among weeds that constrict with their strife and their hate, a flower still blooms.
Petals of vibrant color, they shimmer, they glow. Despite all the darkness that overflows, a flower still blooms.
The sweetest aroma rises from this botanical delight, for a whiff of a wonderful, pleasing scent. Surrounded by the death and decay of an unholy stench, a flower still blooms.
The aftermath of ashes and rubble from a world gone mad. In the wake of sadness and turmoil, a flower still blooms.
Hope is always here, there is nothing left to fear. Forever growing and pruning with God, He strengthens our roots, each and every blessed year, a flower still blooms.
One morning last week I was praying on my way to work. I always pray while driving to work and my prayer that morning was specific about people who struggle with anxiety and fear. While I was praying God gave me a vision of a single flower that was growing in a wasteland. I was inspired to write a poem about the vision called, “A Flower Still Blooms”.
I myself used to get bad anxiety attacks in the early 90’s when my alcohol addiction was at its worst. I eventually had learned how to handle anxiety and the more I learned about it the more it was easier for me to calm down. Since becoming a Christian and being delivered from alcohol addiction, I do not have as many anxiety attacks as I use to. But every now and then, especially during a stressful day when my adrenaline is running high at work, or when sitting in traffic will sometimes trigger an anxiety attack. If you are a Christian who struggles with anxiety, fear, grief, or depression, you are not alone and it’s nothing to be ashamed about. Thankfully, we have a loving Father in heaven who is there to help us in times of distress and sadness. Remember it is important to always turn to Him and not to negative worldly things when dealing with anxiety and depression.
Psalm 61:1-4 NKJV – Assurance of God’s Eternal Protection: 1 Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer. 2 From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. 3 For You have been a shelter for me, A strong tower from the enemy. 4 I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings. Selah
The single flower I saw in the vision last week was a dandelion. If my poem inspires you then just picture whatever your favorite flower is. To some a dandelion is just a weed, but to me it is a beautiful flower! Dandelions hold a special meaning to me. When I see dandelions, it brings back great memories of me visiting my grandparents’ house as a kid. Their backyard was covered with dandelions. So many dandelions that the yard looked like the yellow brick road from the Wizard of Oz. My grandmother would pluck a dandelion and hold it under my chin, she would tell me that if there is a yellow glow then you love butter. Simple things like that mean a lot to me. My grandfather taught me to have fun and enjoy life. My grandmother taught me how to love unconditionally. It amazes me how the impact they made in my life was from appreciating little simple things just like a dandelion. That you can still find beauty among the weeds. It was as if they were helping me to learn the value of finding focal points to help me take time to reflect on life. Of how great life is despite what struggles and stresses may come. When we take time to focus on what blesses us, then we will not notice what is bad.
Dandelions are classified as weeds because they grow wild in places where they are not welcomed. Places some may not welcome a dandelion would be in their yard or a garden. How can something that is so beautiful be rejected as a nuisance? Do you ever feel that way too, like you are not welcomed? You know you are where God has planted you, and in faith you have run wild with the vision He gave you, but yet you can feel tension of not being welcomed where you are, or maybe feel rejected by people. If you have ever felt that way, then do know that you are not alone, I’ve felt like that many times in life. Stay focused on God, continue walking in faith, and trust God that He will make a way.
A dandelion is strong enough to grow through a crack in a sidewalk. Its roots are strong enough to help it to survive in dry places where other plants do not grow. When we are rooted in Jesus, we are able to thrive and survive wherever God plants us. Because of a dandelion’s bright colored petals, it technically is a flower. People may try to classify you as being something you are not. But with God, we know our identity in Christ. Continue to grow in Him for His glory! A flower still blooms!
Psalm 91:1-6 NKJV – Safety of Abiding in the Presence of God: 1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” 3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence. 4 He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. 5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day, 6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
Romans 8:31-39 NKJV – God’s Everlasting Love: 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
