Good Day, God!
This photo was taken inside Koko Crater — it is dry inside. The plants are managing . . . but perhaps not flourishing. Flourishing takes water, nutrients, and attention. It is much the same for people as for plants.
Indeed, God, people who grow up without enough care and attention are often as prickly as these barrel cacti. Our 22 year old grandson Mark, who is visiting, said he had thought it was “normal” for everyone to grow up in a loving family. Now he knows that all too often that is not the case.
The other day I read that the Greek word that Aristotle used for the purpose of humans has been translated as To Be Happy — when he probably meant To Flourish. This has led a lot of folks astray.
It seems to me that we are living in a society in which we try to find happiness by reaching for what we want. And what we want is pretty much what children want — immediate gratification. Sugar is an example . . . of something that what gives us pleasure NOW . . . but isn’t good for us in the long run . . . or even in the short run.
I think it was Viktor Frankl who said that man was created with a desire for meaning. If men and women cannot satisfy that desire, they will turn toward pleasure or toward power. I like his quotes.
But — back to thinking about meaning: how good it would be if we would actively help one another to flourish. Simple things, God, like learning and calling folks by their names. And then not such simple things like looking for the good in people and refraining from judging. Blessing instead of cursing.
Doing those things wouldn’t just help others — it would help all of us who do them — it would help all of us to flourish.
Story teller,
A Moment with God 
Leave a Reply