Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall be to the Lord for a memorial, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.” vs. 13
Isaiah 55:12-13
The myrtle is a fragrant flowering shrub, common to the mountains of Lebanon and Judea, that had enormous significance for the prophet. He told the returning exiles that it would be an everlasting sign of God’s favor and love, and its boughs became a fixture in wedding rituals and the Festival of the Booths. It’s another reminder of the way our faith ancestors saw signs of God’s presence in the beauty and resilience of nature. Perhaps this is why we love to plant gardens in the proximity of our homes–having living green plants around us seems to be a mark of our humanity. They become our friends and as we tend them we speak gentle and loving words–for some they are better than a cat or a dog–and we grieve when our neglect causes them to wither. We may not know it, but this connection to growing and living plants has spiritual value too. Our plants are a living connection to the Lord of the Universe, and their blossoms are a visible reminder of God’s tender and beautiful love. Our whispered words as we tend them, adding water and clipping dead heads, making sure they have enough sunlight, are a prayer that draws us to our Maker.
Thought for the Day: What are my favorite shrubs and plants?
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