Bloom Where You Are Planted

If you believe in creation and a Creator, you must admit that creation is a beautiful thing. You only have to consider the vastness of the sky or the ocean, the meandering of the river as she flows along her way.  The millions of stars that litter the sky or the dawning of a new day. The radiance of the sunlight or the sliver of the moonlight. The strength and rich color of the mountains. The feel of the raindrops on your skin as you sprint to get out of the rain on a rainy day, or even the gentle feel of a light drizzle of rain as you casually walk along your way, enjoying all of its goodness.  Flowering plants and trees bearing fruit are a sight to behold. Any of these, once we take time to enjoy them can bring such encouragement and peace to our souls.

Many of us can attest to feeling energized, alive, enlightened even closer to God after spending time in nature. Christian philosophy tells us that one of the ways in which God reveals himself to us is through nature.  There is so much we can learn from nature. Scripture even encourages us to learn from it. Wise old Solomon tells us in Proverbs to consider the ant and learn from it. “Go to the ant you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise…It stores its provision in the summer and gathers its food at harvest.”  (Prov. 6:6-8)

Today our lesson comes from the lotus plant. There is a valuable lesson that we can learn from this beauty.

About the Lotus

The lotus is elegant and fair. It is an aquatic plant and its flower sits high above the water. I have never experienced the lotus but one observer writes, “the flowers and the leaves all appeared to be reaching for the sun.” The lotus grows in murky waters such as the flood plains of slow-moving rivers and delta areas.

Hundreds of thousands of lotus flower seeds are deposited to the bottom of the river or pond every year.  Seeds that don’t sprout right away or aren’t eaten by wildlife can remain dormant for years as they are buried within dried out silt and dirt. During flood conditions, sediments containing these seeds are broken open, and the dormant seeds rehydrate and begin a new lotus colony.

The roots of lotus are planted in the soil of the pond or river bottom, while the leaves float on the water’s surface and the flowers are held high above the water on thick stems. The leaf stalks which are called petioles can be up to 6- 8 feet long, allowing the plant to grow in water to that depth.  The lotus flower submerges itself into the murky water every evening and reemerges every morning as new. Without a spot of dirt or silt on its petals.

The lotus flower blooms most beautifully from the deepest and thickest mud

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What can we learn from the Lotus?

The lotus blooms where it is planted. Even though the lotus is planted in dirty, murky waters, it thrives and blooms beautifully. “The lotus flower blooms most beautifully from the deepest and thickest mud”, says one writer.

The lotus flower does not conform to its environment. Each morning it emerges from the mucky water just as beautiful with no marks of mud or dirt on its petals. Even though it is planted in the mud it still grows with grace.

The lotus reaches toward the sun. Even though it is planted in murky waters it strives to meet the sun. It is not feeble and bowed down, it is tall and upright reaching above the water and toward the light.     

The lotus does not lose its potential to produce. Even when it is in a dormant state as a result of being trapped amongst silt and dirt which has been dried out, the lotus still has its potential to produce. It waits in quiet anticipation for its day to come. When the hardened silt and dirt are broken up and the lotus finds the right environment, it rehydrates, energizes, gets busy, begins to grow and to bloom. Before you know it, a new lotus colony is born.

The lotus can grow in deep waters. It grows in waters 6 to 8 feet deep. This is confirmation of how tall the lotus flower stands. Even from the depths of the water this flower rises and blooms magnificently.

The stalk and the leaves are so firmly attached to the root of the plant, that they cannot be easily plucked off by human hands. They have to be cut off.

Conclusion

Several months ago, I was very discouraged by a particular situation and the Lord led me to learn about the lotus flower. At the time it gave me great hope and comfort. So much so that I jotted down some notes about its attributes in my notebook. I feel like the Creator designed this flower to grow this way just so we can learn from it. Last week I was again dealing with a situation that caused me to feel discouraged and a message I received quickly brought this lesson back to my mind.

As you are reading these words you may going through a particular situation. Maybe you are at the moment, planted in dirty, muddy waters. An environment which is toxic and threatens your growth and your potential. Maybe like me you feel discouraged. I beseech you take heart and take pattern from the lotus.

Do not conform to your environment. The waters may be deep, the situation may be difficult but keep your head up, do not be bowed down. Those deep waters will help to fuel your growth. Keep striving toward the sun, your sun is your potential, goals, dreams and aspirations. I also want you to know that it is never too late to begin to grow, to think otherwise is to do yourself a disservice. There are lotus seeds that stay dormant for several years and then grow when they are in the right environment. It has been reported that lotus seeds 1300 years old were discovered in a dry lakebed in China and were germinated. This is the oldest lotus germination to be recorded.

 Finally, stay firmly attached to your roots. In this analogy, your roots are your faith. My faith is in the God who created the heaven and the earth, the sea and everything that is in them. (Ps 146:6) I keep the promise found in Jeremiah 17:7-8 close, I want to share it with you and encourage you to do the same. God promises, “Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes, its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”

Don’t let your environment stunt your growth and detract from your beauty. Where are you planted? Bloom where you are planted.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you found it helpful please leave me a comment and share with a friend. Until next time be safe and be blessed. 😊