May we cherish friendship as one of thy most precious gifts. May we not let awareness of another’s talents discourage
us, or sully our relationship but may we realize that, whatever we can do, great or small, the efforts of all of us are needed to do thy work in this world.                        ~Norbert Capek

Field of Lupine, Portland, Maine

 Our spring gardens, fields of wildflowers, and roadside lupines are handy reminders of the natural beauty and generosity of diversity, with all its dazzling colors, unique shapes, and ways of being.  Each a gift.

 And so it is with people.  Each person we encounter contributes something to our lives:  a unique blend of love, friendship, joy, pain, challenge, information, expectations, attention, fear, amazement, and the list goes on.   What we learn over time is that all of our relationships are precious and need careful tending  that promotes health, beauty, and generosity.

Twice in the last month, I have participated in a flower communion, a lovely celebration of the beauty of the human community, symbolized in the gift of flowers.  Each person adds a flower to a common vase, forming a colorful bouquet which is blessed by the community and natural world that created it.  At the end of the service, each person is invited to choose a flower from the bouquet as a gift and a blessing of community to carry out into the world.

Leo Buscaglia, author and motivational speaker, is quoted as saying, “The fact that I can plant a seed and it becomes a flower, share a bit of knowledge and it becomes another’s, smile at someone and receive a smile in return, are to me continual spiritual exercises.”

It is important for us to remember that we each have a gift to offer one another and our communities.  Every act of kindness, compassion, and generosity is a blessing to the world.

For more information about the history, tradition, and celebration of the Flower Communion: http://www.uua.org/worship/seasons/174534.shtml