A Passion Flower . . . which with pollination may become a passion fruit
Good Evening, God
What a delight to find this bright purple blossom hiding in the midst of another species of shrub. I see these unplanned plants as little micro wildernesses. Somehow managing to survive without help . . . and indeed, against intentional harm. There is a bit of “wilderness” at the top of our valley. Not really wild — but unplanned and unstructured.
And, I do consider the transforming of flower into fruit as somehow symbolic of Your Ongoing Work of Transformation. While I was pondering this during Centering Prayer I was struck by how powerfully transformative it is when we set aside regular time to pray specifically for those persecuting others or the planet. Pray for your enemies You tell us. But, I don’t think our church has offered a class in that. Well, maybe they tried and nobody came?
I’m no expert — not certified to teach about it — but I have been working at it and I feel called to share. 1) It took a while for me to stop asking You to FIX the person I was praying for. 2) Then I moved on to asking You to HEAL the person. That was really a more loving version of Fix. 3) It took even longer for me to ask You to BLESS the person. To shower that person with Your LOVE. 4) Then I began to see how many qualities I shared with that person. 5) I shifted — yes, slowly — into praying for US . . . bless us . . . and help us . 6) Then I became aware of my need to repent. . . make that my need to be about the work of repenting. 7) And where I am now is slowly becoming aware of what St. Paul was referring to in Ephesians 6:12. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
So, why am I writing this? I guess, God, that I want to encourage us ALL to take You at Your Word. “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” Matthew 5:44
Story teller,
A Moment with God 
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