Lone Sunflower is Murdered

It would be lovely to have my whole back field looking like this, but we were gifted with just one little, lonely sunflower bravely growing in the rocky soil by the road on our property.

I loved this one little  wild sunflower because, for me, it represented a single life on earth.  It demonstrated courage under difficult circumstances, and I vowed to protect it so it could spread sunshine and happiness all of its days. 

A few days ago, I asked my husband to be careful not to harm the special sunflower in the front yard. Today, I failed in my watchful care because I heard the lawn mower and didn't remind my husband to watch for that precious little flower.  Mournfully picking up the pieces of the yellow petals strewn upon the lawn, I burst into tears and my body was racked with grief.  It took quite some time to stop sobbing uncontrollably over the death of this flower.  I know, you're thinking that was a huge overreaction concerning what is typically regarded as a weed here in Utah.  Indulge me a bit to examine why this was so devastating at the moment, and why I'm still hurting as I post this eulogy for my favorite sunflower.  If I hadn't gotten to know, cherish, and appreciate it, perhaps its demise would have gone unnoticed, but nothing should have to die forgotten and alone by the wayside.

This flower dared to try to live where its seed was cast.  It struggled through the rough, rocky soil and against the lack of rain and somehow survived to full bloom.  It could have lived to die a natural death when the frost beat it down.  Instead, it was cut down in its prime when it wasn't harming anyone or anything by just been there.  It was fulfilling the measure of its creation and bringing much joy to at least one person.

Perhaps in view of the latest senseless murders, I'm thinking how like this sunflower are some peoples' lives.  No one is guaranteed a perfect, long life with no hardship.  Some lives are easier than others, but everyone is expected to make the best of it and keep that chin up facing the sunshine smiling, even if a cloud is in the way.  

I am sad that some people lose their lives before living them fully.  It is a tragedy not deserved.  Loved ones are left to suffer the consequences of the loss for the rest of their lives.  People who didn't even know those reported in media feel compassion  How can we resolve within our hearts the senseless murders and human suffering taking place throughout the world?  Many people blame God.

God has a Plan of Happiness for us.  We lived with him as His spirit children before we came to earth.  We are born, we live (experiencing whatever we need to help us grow and become), we die, and we return to Him who created us.  He knows the end from the beginning.  Death is not the end to Him.  He knows that life on earth is but a short speck in the eternal scheme of things.  He could stop all pain, suffering, and evil deeds.  Sometimes he does have angels intervene for purposes we do not understand.  For the most part, He allows the people in the world to evolve and to struggle and to learn.  Choice and natural circumstances happen to everything and everyone on earth.  We must have faith that we will understand it all someday.  We must have faith that He can offer us insight and comfort in the face of tragedy.  There is the promise of a resurrection to immortality for all things.  Eternal Life is a choice available to all.

If you'd like a better understanding of these things, go to the LDS links on the main page of this blog.  Meanwhile, pray for yourself, your family and friends, those who need comfort and help, and for the world.  Go out and spread sunshine however and wherever you can.  Remember the saying, "Bloom where you are planted."  What you do doesn't have to be costly or a big production.  Think of my little sunflower.

Stories about how people deal with tragedy:  mormon.org