Well friends, it’s time for some more rambling thoughts and musings. Isn’t that the beauty of life? So much to think about, so much to learn, so much beauty and wisdom to discover. It comes with a whole lot of tears and dirt and heartbreak too, no denying it. But with all the pain and all the hurt and sin it makes you ask a question: what makes it worth it? Does anything make it worth it? What is that beauty of hope that flickers in the pain? How can a story that leaves you sobbing also leave you brave?

   Those are some of the thoughts I’ve been mulling over. And let me tell you right now, I don’t have all the answers but I know who does…

I’ve always been intrigued by philosphy. Isn’t it a lovely word? The definition of philosphy according to the grand old dictionary the internet 😉 is: the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence. Another one (my personal preference) is: the pursuit of wisdom.

In a nutshell philosophers are people who search for answers to the questions: what is life and what is the meaning of this woven tapestry we humans find ourselves in?

One philosopher answered this question in a way that pulled at my heart and made me wonder at the deep simplicity of it. For the life of me I can’t find this quote again and I don’t know who said it but here it is to the best of my memory: the point of life is to live.

This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom You sent.

John 17:3

The philosopher I mentioned above had something figured out. I agree that the purpose of life is to live. But then we have to ask the question, what is living? Jesus anwers that question. Eternal life is to know the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He sent.

The first question in the catechism (and the only one I know) says that the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. To know God our Creator, King and Father is what we were made for and it is life. Do you see the brokeness in the world? There is a cavern so deep and so perilous that we could never cross it. We stand on one side with our pain, longing, restlessness, jealousy and anger and on the other side is God, the only One who can truly save us.

And God built a bridge. In the shape of a cross and He took the punishment that was so rightfully ours. He died and not only died, He took all our sin, shame and brokeness on Himself and He died. The King who wept over the hard hearts of His people, the hands that healed the lame and blind, hanging there, in our place dying. And He didn’t stay dead. You see, this thing that we call death, it has no hold on the One who spoke the galaxies into place with a word or breathed life into the first man or set the molecules in motion and mapped out the whirling starry expanses of the universe. He rose again and now- right now is seated in heaven preparing a place for us to join Him.

That my friends is something worth living for. That is something that allows you to be a philosopical sunflower.

Wait a minute, Josie. What does any of this have to do with sunflowers?? Come with me and I’ll tell you.

Sunflowers are special. Have you ever wondered about their name? Are the called sunflowers because their brilliant yellow smiling selves resemble the sun? Maybe… But did you know something else about sunflowers? They do not always face the same direction. Why? They constantly turn their heads to the sun. They are sun flowers. Always watching the sun with full wide open eyes. Staring and rejoicing in the thing that allows them to grow and live. Does the rain beat down on them? Yes. Does the dirt and mud smear on their stems? Yes. Do even their petals become torn and faded? Yes. But they still look towards the sun and I think that they are the happiest flowers alive.

Does the rain fall on us? Yes. Lately we all know this more than ever. But where are we looking? I want to look at the sun. I want to smile at the antics of my kittens, I want to wrap my siblings in giant bear hugs, I want to get garden dirt on my feet and have water fights, and splatter paint on old t-shirts and watch sunsets and dance in the rain. I want to cry when it hurts. I want to ask God why there’s so much pain in the world and why can’t I understand. I want to look to Him for peace when I don’t get the answers as quick as I would like. I want to love and praise Him anyways because I want to remember that no matter how I feel, He is so good and so faithful and His plans are so much greater than anything I could imagine. Even when it doesn’t feel like it. No, especially when it doesn’t feel like it because that’s when we have to go to the One whom our souls need.

I want to be a sunflower.

Here is a beautiful song by Casting Crowns that has encouraged me. Give it a listen! 🙂