The Rosebud

Unfolding the Rosebud, God’s will for our lives.

A young, new preacher was walking with an older, more seasoned preacher in the garden one day and feeling a bit insecure about what God had for him to do, he was inquiring of the older preacher. The older preacher walked up to a rosebush and handed the young preacher a rosebud and told him to open it without tearing off any petals. The young preacher looked in disbelief at the older preacher and was trying to figure out what a rosebud could possibly have to do with his wanting to know the WILL OF GOD for his life and for his ministry. Because of his high respect for the older  preacher, he proceeded to TRY to unfold the rose, while keeping every petal in tact. It wasn’t long before he realized how it was impossible to do so. Noticing the younger preacher’s inability to unfold the rosebud while keeping it in tact, the older preacher began to tell the following poem.

It is only a tiny rosebud,
A flower of GOD’s design;
But I cannot unfold the petals
With these clumsy hands of mine.

The secret of unfolding flowers
Is not known to such as I.
GOD opens this flower so sweetly,
When in my hands they fade and die.

If I cannot unfold a rosebud,
This flower of GOD’s design,
Then how can I think I have wisdom
To unfold this life of mine?

So I’ll trust in Him for His leading
Each moment of every day.
I will look to Him for His guidance
Each step of the pilgrim way.

The pathway that lies before me,
Only my heavenly Father knows.
I’ll trust Him to unfold the moments,
Just as He unfolds the rose.

As we approach the end of the church life of St. Mark’s 235 years of existence, we all are uncertain of the future. Our faithfulness to God shows us the rose and only He will unfold it. We can do nothing to that rose that will rival God’s hand in the rose. Life is a lot like this rose, St Mark’s. We have been blessed with his unfolding of this rose, the church and will bring us to the next bloom to experience.

Prayer: Lord, we see your hand in creation and in the unfolding rose. Unfold our lives as we continue to worship and pray to you. Guide the planting of ourselves in new places of worship and with new roses of your design. Amen

Blessings, Deacon Nancy Trimble