Reflections on Sunflowers

Lessons from a Sunflower Field

There’s nothing like a field of sunflowers to grab my attention when I’m driving. I couldn’t resist stopping at this one on the way home from a family event. It was calling me. I had to turn around, find a place to park by the side of the road, and join the throng that had gathered there to take photos.

The sun was just setting on the horizon, sending beams of light through the glowing petals and creating halos around the hair of the posers.

I usually prefer not to include people in my photos and let nature take center stage—but I did succumb to the trend and took a few selfies so I’d have a new profile picture for Facebook.

I was amazed by how all the sunflowers faced east toward the rising sun, always looking forward to the new day.

The bees were busy gathering pollen that the sunflowers freely provided in exchange for fertilization, which would create the seeds they’ll later share with birds and people alike—a happy coexistence.

I’m also in awe of how tall, straight, and strong the stems are that hold up those heavy, blooming heads. They send their roots deep into the earth for stability. Likewise, I need to be rooted and grounded in my faith, drinking up the living water of God’s Spirit to make me strong and resilient through all kinds of weather.

My attempts to grow sunflowers in my own yard have been feeble at best. Either the rabbits have eaten them before they mature, or they haven’t received enough light or nutrients to grow strong. Farmers do it much better than I do. They have the wisdom and experience. But I can learn from them and keep trying.

Part of gardening is learning from mistakes and not giving up—and I think that’s part of life, too. 🌻