white hibiscus at dusk
Good Morning, God!
Kit has been going on walks with me after dinner – it is a true gift from him – as he has often run in the afternoon. I’m grateful! But, I will admit, God, that I am still surprised by the different Universes we inhabit, side by side.
A couple of evenings ago, at dusk, we set out and came across a big hibiscus bush covered in these lovely white flowers. I was delighted and pointed it out to Kit, overjoyed at how lovely it was. Aren’t they BEAUTIFUL, I asked rhetorically. They’re WHITE he said dismissively. There followed a period of mutual non-comprehension – but he finally made it clear that with COLORED hibiscus being so much MORE beautiful, he couldn’t work up any appreciation for white ones.
A spray of blossoms form a Rainbow Shower Tree
Now, God, I understand that flowers are not Kit’s thing — he does sports, and I do flowers. But, I guess, it never occurred to me that each kind of flower, each color of flower, wouldn’t be appreciated for itself — as opposed to being ranked from Top to Bottom. I mean, it wasn’t as if we had to pick out a lei and CHOOSE. We were just out for a walk — and a walk to me means seeing and appreciating.
So, God, now I’m pondering the differences between Appreciating and Evaluating. Appreciation can stand alone. Here the white hibiscus is. And I can see it’s beauty. But another way of seeing the white hibiscus is to Evaluate it — that is, see it in CONTEXT — COMPARE it with other colors and other flowers — and in Kit’s case, find it wanting.
Of course, evaluation has its uses and we probably need to do more of it. Still, God, I surely hope and pray that when You “look” at us You are more into APPRECIATION than EVALUATION!
Story teller,
A Moment with God 
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