This morning, I discovered a morning glory beside my house, it's cheery face soaking up sunshine.  I was delighted in the way one is when you stumble across a treasure you weren't looking for.

Now, to be sure, I planted that morning glory, so I shouldn't have been surprised.  But I planted it probably 14 years ago when we first moved into our house!

Morning glories, in our climate, are annuals.  However, they can reseed themselves and come back year after year.  They are a flower that prefers full sun and is “well known for their tolerance to poor, dry soils” (learn more at gardeningknowhow.com), a fact which was fully tested in the spot I planted them! 

When we moved into our house 14 years ago, I decided to make a flower patch in front, in a spot that had previously been the location of the front porch.  I was disappointed to learn that the soil was hard and shallow and that the sun really beat down in that area.  Not being an especially conscientious hoe-er or water-er, my flowers didn't fare to well, though the weeds did.   Most of the plants died over the next couple of years, or if they survived, were moved to more favourable locations.  However, the morning glory seeds that I planted did sprout, fought their way through the weeds and grew up the side of our landing.  I was always happy to round the corner and see those cheery blue flowers greet me in the mornings. 

After a couple of years, the flower patch was shut down and returned to more manageable grass.

This is not the first time that a morning glory has sprung to life over the intervening years, but it is rare and always pleasantly surprising.  It only happens under certain conditions:  neglect by the lawn maintenance crew and sufficient time to grow.

We have experienced “unprecedented times” recently when many of the things, events, ways of doing things have had to be set aside, changed, postponed, neglected.  But what “flowers” are sprouting and blooming in their place?  Are there beautiful, simple things, values, ways of doing things, long-forgotten, that will finally be able to return?  As things slowly begin to return to “normal,” can we hold onto the blessings that have surprised us?  How do we see the world around us?  As neglected and broken, or as resilient and full of new life?  Will our eyes be drawn to the “planting of the LORD for the display of his splendour?”

I'm not sure how long my morning glory will last.  For now, I will revel in its beauty and the burst of joy it brought me this morning and consider what God may be planting in my own life for his glory.

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,

because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim freedom from the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,

to proclaim the year of the LORD's favour and the day of vengeance of our God,

to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion -

to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,

the oil of joy instead of mourning,

and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.

They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD

for the display of his splendour.

Isaiah 61:1 - 3